"Great treatment, but ..."

I attended the RVI in October for an Epi-retinal peel and cataract operation. On the whole I was treated very well by all concerned so this is by no means a complaint but there were things which could be better, some minor, others important, I think. On the minor side, I was initially led to a side ward and placed at a bed which I was told was mine so before going to the operating theatre, put clothes, etc into the locker and fortunately locked it. On my return from theatre, I was taken to a different bed in another room for reasons not explained to me. A nurse had to take the key to get my things. Seemed odd to say the least. However, my biggest problem was the information, or lack of it, provided to me when I was discharged. The nurse explained use of the medication and some dos & don’ts and provided me with a folder containing copy letters and an information sheet. My eye appeared to have a pool of liquid slopping about in it and when I asked the nurse about it, was told it would disappear. She didn’t say it would take over a week nor did she say that it was actually an air bubble (or so I was informed today on my follow-up appointment). The surgeon did not warn me about this either prior to the operation or afterwards and really told me very little about the operation. I had been fitted with compression stockings which I was told I would need for “posturing” although again, nobody told me what this was or why it would be necessary. In the event, I apparently did not need this. I was therefore surprised to find at home that the only information sheet I was given (a poor photocopy) was mainly about gas or oil bubbles and posturing and contained no information about my air bubble or anything at all about the dos and don’ts or their duration. On the day, there is much to take in and surely it would make sense to provide patients with as much information as possible to take away with them. My procedure must be a very common one, so surely a pre-printed information sheet with relevant details should not be too difficult to provide?

Finally, the copy letter to my GP said that a follow-up appointment would be made for me but a week before it was due, I had heard nothing. I tried to ring the Appointments telephone number provided, listened to the lengthy Covid announcement 3 times before I eventually found somebody to help who confirmed that no appointment had been made. Fortunately, I was then given the number for my surgeon’s secretary who was able to make the necessary appointment. I appreciate that the Covid situation has imposed extra loads, but it was nevertheless disappointing to have to do this.