"Ophthalmology A&E on a Sunday"

I have had an eye problem for years that flares up from time to time and needs drops. It usually goes away with fairly light treatment, however this time did not. Ophthalmologists say to see them straight away should this occur. Unfortunately I realised it was becoming a problem on a Bank Holiday weekend.

I found a phone number for the specialist nurse who rang back after an hour and said to ring the hospital and speak to the duty Eye doctor. The duty eye doctor did not respond to a message I had to leave on the mobile, so eventually after 2 hours I tracked the doctor down to the Eye Casualty. No full history was taken and the doctor seemed uninterested and said to come to the unit on the Tuesday, when I questioned this, it was suggested I come on the Monday. There was no suggestion about what to do until the appointment or how to control the pain. I was concerned that the doctor did not have enough information to safely tell me to do this and although I could have driven to the casualty and turned up there, I decided that if someone was so unconcerned about my eyesight I would not trust their opinion. My husband drove me up to the Moorfields Eye hospital where full tests were carried out by the specialist nurses and the doctors looked at the results and my eyes. They told me to start a new regime of eye drops and gave me another set to take at night. I had full confidence in the team there and their views seem based on proven studies. It was something that did need to be addressed and although I do not expect the same service at WHH I do expect the doctors who are being paid to work to take a full history and see me and treat me or explain fully why not! !