"My 5 year old daughter has been refused NHS funding for glasses and eye tests"

My daugher had a hearing and vision test earlier this year. this was undertaken in her school reception year by the school nurse. an issue was picked up regarding her sight and a referral was made to the NNUH. I was told that it would take three months for her to be seen. I was not prepared to let her wait that long so I contacted the Spire Hospital in order to arrange a private consultation. This was also delayed as my Daughter's referral from the school nursing team via my daughter's GP to the Spire contained the wrong name and an incorrect date of birth.

Eventually my daughter was seen at the Spire and her eyesight was described as 'very poor' by the consultant. When we went to choose her some glasses I was told that she was not entitled to an NHS voucher for her glasses or any free eye tests for the next year. AT NO POINT was I given any hint by any NHS staff prior to her consultation that this would be the case. I was also subsequently informed that a hospital referral was not necessary initially due to her age and that any optician could have potentially tested her eyes for free.

This poor service has resulted in me paying out a £170 private consultation fee, £40 for a pair of glasses that would have been free with an NHS voucher and I still owe £120 for a follow up consultation that I have no idea how I will find the money to pay for.

six months on my daughter is now stating that her eyesight is improving and she clearly needs another eye test but is not entitled to NHS testing. I think this is an absolute disgrace, especially as we based our initial decision based on misleading information