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Waiting time in eye dept in St Helens hospital

Posted By Motherinky

"Waiting time in eye dept in St Helens hospital"

About: St Helens Hospital / Ophthalmology

(as a relative),

Over several years now I have taken my father to the ophthalmology department at St Helens Hospital. Each visit can take from 2-3 hours. This is surely unacceptable when the majority of patients are elderly.

A false sense of a short visit visit is given by testing eyes in one room and then moving to another room further down the corridor. The first stage of eye testing which lasts about 5 mins is the easy bit. The next stage can take up to 3 hours. Each time I have made a visit a nurse comes to update patients about the delay. This happens whatever time the appt is. When you reach the second stage this lasts approx 10 mins max only to be told that this process beds to be done in 6 months time.

Why can't eye testing and pressure checks be done at any of the new health centres?

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Responses

Response from Patient Experience and Engagement Lead, St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust 11 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust

Submitted on 09/10/2012 at 10:58
Published on Care Opinion at 15:24

Dear Motherinky

I'm sorry that your father’s visits to the Ophthalmology department at St Helens Hospital took longer than expected.

We try to make sure that appointment letters give patients a realistic idea of the length of time they will be in the department, however the management team at St Helens Hospital do recognise that the running of these clinics needs to be improved to ensure a better patient experience.

The Directorate Manager at St Helens Hospital is currently undertaking a review of Ophthalmology clinics and is developing plans to improve the service provided to Ophthalmology patients. I hope that you will notice improvements to the service in future visits.

Regards

Patient Experience & Engagement Lead

Update posted by Motherinky (a relative)

That is great news to hear as this has been needing some reorganisation for some years now.

Hope to see an improvement then on our next visit in 6 months.

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