"Variable"

It is of course, fantastic that we have Moorfields & other such hospital to minister to our medical needs - but healing the patient is NOT only about medical care & treatment.

I have, unfortunately, made many visits to Moorfields over the years, regarding 3 specific eye problems, & as an in-patient & at clinics.

The procedures at each in-patient admittance changed each time, & staff to patient communication was lacking, & some staff not that approachable. That was a few years back, so I don't know the current situation though I have been told overnight stays are now generally avoided, unless a private patient.

When one of my problems was diagnosed I had to wait for surgery, TOO long it seemed to me & the worry made me very depressed - the time wait for that operation now is far less but I still wonder why I wasn't seen more urgently, & perhaps my sight better, as a result.

At clinics the " service " has been better, & the nurses are usually really nice, but some of the doctors have been fairly dismissive of patients, not interested in what the patient has to say, or how that PERSON is feeling about their specific problem. I put PERSON in capital letters because, at times, patients can feel as if, to the doctor they are just another case of whatever eye problem, rather than an individual WITH a particular problem & somebody who might be feeling anxious or terrified, depending on their condition.

I have found either little or no information is given or has to almost be extracted from the doctor. At other times they chatter away, using medical terminology or inundate the patient with too much information. Especially if the news is bad, ears don't hear, or understand, everything being said, nothing sinks into the patient's brain & it's all forgotten as one leaves the hospital.

I actually wrote to seek fuller details because my appointment had been confusing....NO response at all !.

Some of the doctors can display an arrogance, a condescending & superior attitude.

My greatest criticism though is that, for a specialist hospital, many of the staff do not appear to understand the feelings that eye problems, & more so with on-going ones, can produce.

There seems to be a lack of sympathy for the patient - that they might be terrified they will lose their sight.

Perhaps it is because THEY are not the person with the problem, but that isn't good enough. The staff may not be suffering from the condition themselves, but surely they should be able to imagine what it would be like, & act in an accordingly sympathetic, caring manner to patients ?.

Having an eye problem is bad enough, without those entrusted with our care appearing disinterested in, or dismissive of, our concerns, & showing no sympathy or interest in the emotional side of things.