"A cataract of shambles"

In late January 2017 I was referred to Kingston Hospital Ophthalmology Department because of two severe cataracts.

On March 13th assessed in clinic and told that the worst eye would be treated first and if all was well at follow up would proceed to do the second eye.

Offered a cancellation place at short notice and cataract procedure on first eye was performed on 18th March.

However at follow up on 13th April I was told that rules had changed. I would now have to be reassessed from scratch and rejoin queue.

July 13th after the new assessment I was accepted and put on waiting list for the second eye.

I was finding it difficult to juggle with the two unmatched eyes in the meantime.

Given appointment for treatment on 3rd October - made arrangements for travel, meals etc (I am 84). This was 26 weeks after the Department's own referral.

On 2nd October however I got two hospital phone calls. One was to check that I would attend. The second 4 hours later to say that my surgery was cancelled because "My file had been lost and surgeons would not operate without result of assessment."!

Given appointment for another repeat assessment on 10th October.

No idea when or if they will operate. It is already 34 weeks since my original referral and 26 weeks from the second referral and I have still got nowhere with the second eye. This is now going to have a third assessment - what a waste of time and money and what a shambolic organisation. And I fear that I will be back on the end of the waiting list again - all because they lost the file.

But the hospital web site still claims that 9 out of 10 patients are treated within 14 weeks of referral.If that is true then I must be particularly unlucky.