"Mixed bag"

I attend the medical Glaucoma clinic once a year for about 5 years now. I must say that on each occasion I have been frustrated with the experience. I keep hoping that things will improve they haven't. I can't remember the waiting time on all previous occasion but it has always been long. On one occasion they had lost my records. I have got used to the route of the appointments now. First eye test, then down stairs for scan then back upstairs for visual field test and finally see opthalmologist. First year I was told my condition was inherited and that my father (who I said had glaucoma) most have the same type. I said he didn't and that he had only been diagnosed in his 70's while I am in my 40,s.

I had the same ophthalmologist the next year and went prepared with copies of all my father's letter re eyes. Both these years they did send a letter to me and my GP as is their practice. However on at least one of those occasions the letter stated the name of the eye drops incorrectly. I called the hospital to ensure I hadn't inadvertently not understood the instructions. 'Continue with current drops'. I tried to get the letter corrected as the strength of the dose was also wrong. On the third visit I had a different ophthalmologist and they left me with 'panda eyes' (from the drops) and didn't tell me. They must have missed my eyes as I know they had to repeat the drops in one eye as they didn't appear to work. This time there was no letter to me or GP. The next year I saw a different one again who asked me if I had suffered a 'massive blow' (or similar wording) to my eyes. I said yes that was the glaucoma attack which has brought me to this. No letter that year either.

This year I arrived 20 mins early, registered at reception and waited as instructed. I didn't expect to be seen before my allotted time so waited patiently to be called. How long do I wait after my appointment time to politely enquire about waiting time. There was no information on a board so I had no idea.

I waited about 25 mins and enquired but was told they have no idea about waiting times.

Just have to wait. 'Had I had an eye test yet?' 'No I said'. I was told to 'go and knock on a door and ask them if they had my name on their list'. 'No ask at reception'. But I was told to ask you guys. At this point the 2 of them start to talk to each other (they are a distance away) . Receptionist says I have just come back from lunch. This was true as the receptionist wasn't the one who booked me in.

The receptionist then finds the sheet of paper in my file that the receptionist should have passed on. The receptionist apologised for the other person. Then it was the usual upstairs downstairs routine. This time it was another opthalmologist I hadn't seen before. The ophthalmologist was very pleasant, professional and informative. As it is teaching hospital I was asked if I minded if their colleague could also take a look. I agreed. This meant thins took longer so another 3 hours out of my life. Letter has arrived this year and is correct.