"Crazy rules"

My elderly Mum lives in Cumbernauld. She was asked to go to the Golden Jubilee hospital to see about getting her cataracts treated. My brother collected her and they travelled by car, which took 30 minutes. It took them one and a half hours on the way back due to heavy traffic. My elderly mum could have gone by bus but it would have taken her two buses at best. My mum was told that she had to have one eye done at a time. She was told that she would get and appointment get one cataract done and then see her optician in 4 weeks to have it checked. Then the optician would refer her for her second one. That's fine, however my mum has been told that although she wont need any tests she will need to sign a consent form in person at the Gorden Jubilee which at best is 2 hours travel just to go and sign a form to get the second cataract done.

Would it not make much more sense in this day and age rather than my elderly mother making this lengthy journey just to sign a form that the form could be sent to her G. P. in Cumbernauld where she could walk to the surgery sign the consent form in front of a doctor or practice nurse and they could send the form to the Golden Jubilee? I am a appalled that she has to do this and can't believe that anyone would ask her. I work in the NHS and even I find this unbelievable!