Torn retina

Out walking on a cold day, a sharp pain in my eye. The following day a cloudy stain spreads across my vision in that eye. I ask my wife if there is anything visible, there isn't, so I ring my optician. Go to your doctor immediately, I'm told. Good advice.

I ring my GP, and am told to go straight to the eye clinic at the local hospital. The GP has rung ahead (thank you) and I am expected. A short wait, eye drops administered to dilate my pupil and I'm seen by a very bright, young, doctor. Checks my eye, talks to the consultant - it's definitely a torn retina. The doctor then takes me to a separate area where a repair (by 'laser welding') is attempted.  Excellent communication throughout; I'm squeamish at the best of times  and by now rather tired and stressed. This isn't fun but I'm helped through it. It's now quite late, around 5pm.

Doctor explains that the tear has been repaired but is almost inaccessible and that I should come back the following morning to see the consultant who has gone home for the day but has more experience and will make sure all is well. I am assured that things will be ok until then. I'm asked to turn up at 8am the following day and am given my notes to bring in - I'm told to hand them to reception when I arrive.

In the circumstances, excellent treatment. I'm impressed by the doctor's communication and approach, and say so.

So, the following morning I arrive well before 8. Hand my notes to reception as requested and state that I have an arrangement to see the consultant (named) at 8am.  Eye drops administered. I am asked to wait.

Nothing happens. At around 825 the consultant walks into the clinic, outdoor coat on. Time passes, I'm still waiting. At 845 the consultant comes out and shouts my name. I go to the room, where I'm given a loud telling off for not arriving on time and not bringing the notes. I explain the facts, and mention their arrival at 825. This does not go down well. I am given very abrupt treatment, accompanied by moaning (eg, the amount of work for the day, my eye drops are wearing off (I wonder why, silently)), continual sighing and loud criticism when I explain at one point that I am in some discomfort.

A truly dreadful experience this time, and I'm unconvinced that a good job has been done.

I come back for a checkup a couple of weeks later and it seems that all is well with the repair.  I'm told to come directly to the eye clinic if I have further problems. However.......

A few months later I think that I have another small bleed in the same eye and go to the eye clinic. I explain the history but am in effect turned away - told to go to A&E. So I do. And wait for >3 hours, to be seen by a very pleasant doctor. I explain the history (they don't have access to my records from the eye clinic), and my eye is checked with the equipment available in A&E. More waiting.  The doctor then tries to call the eye clinic for advice. More waiting. Eventually a discussion takes place. I'm told there is probably not a new problem.

That all took more than 5 hours and consumed a good deal of NHS resource. A 5 minute check at the eye clinic would have saved  a lot of that resource and a lot of my time. Not having my records available doesn't help, either.