"Incompetent staff"

After visiting my Gp and 2 visits to Stafford A & E Dept., I was advised to visit Wolverhampton eye hospital, which I did, only to be told by a surly receptionist that I had to go to A & E.

More surly staff in A & E.

After a third examination there was still no diagnosis for my extremely painful eye and I was referred to the eye clinic 2 days later.

I saw a junior doctor who examined my eye yet again but did not speak to me except to tell me to go to the waiting room and wait to see the consultant. The consultant had another look in my eye, told me to keep on putting the cream in and no, I couldn't have another appointment, if it didn't get better I would have to go back to A & E!!!

By Tuesday last week I was in so much pain and suffering from panic attacks and severe anxiety that my husband insisted that he take me back to New Cross. By then I had lost confidence in the hospital and rude staff but felt I had no alternative. The triage nurse refused to let my husband accompany me saying there was not enough room, which was rubbish, there was plenty of room, even a spare chair. I was then told to wait to see the nurse specialist and at this point everything changed. The nurse was wonderful and was the first member of staff to treat me like a human being. The nurse flicked my eyelid back and lo and behold, found an eyelash growing from under the eyelid into my eye!

A pair of tweezers and I had my life back. Four weeks of agony when I couldn't read, watch television, cook, drive or shop etc, etc.

This is a common problem and easily solved so how did your doctors miss it?

You need to send them on a refresher course and the rest of your staff would benefit from attending a charm school, except of course for wonderful nurse who restored my faith in the NHS (well nearly).