Specsavers problem?

nedmundo

Ultimately, Opticians are only contracted to perform routine eye exams. GPs are responsible for your overall health. Sounds like your GP was passing the buck rather than pay to have you seen at hospital?

Air_Cooled_75

Where are you based? GPs do make referrals in England.

mike+caz

Air_Cooled_75 wrote: »

Where are you based? GPs do make referrals in England.

Ii live in Wales. Things are different here (I think). When my Mam had cataracts she was seen by optician who said that they do eye clinic referrals not GP's. Also the other optician I saw referred me he didn't sent me back to go he said they do it.
I will try and find out who is responsible.

Specsavers_company_representative

Hi Caz, we're very sorry to read about what's happened. If you would like yo get in touch about this please email us at feedback@specsavers.co.uk with your contact details and the name of the store you visited.

Bradfield

mike+caz wrote: »

Ii live in Wales. Things are different here (I think). When my Mam had cataracts she was seen by optician who said that they do eye clinic referrals not GP's. Also the other optician I saw referred me he didn't sent me back to go he said they do it.
I will try and find out who is responsible.

I have to say I do agree with nedmundo here. I think your GP should have been some-what more pro-active considering the acute nature of the symptoms. It is easy to judge in hind-sight and given the complicated procedures in place for eye treatment it is not surprising that people are simply not aware of what is the best course of action to take, when they have a problem. Once when I accidentally got some ammonia in my eyes, I simply went straight to an eye hospital and got immediate emergency treatment. I am thinking you might have been more than justified in taking the same course of action.

mike+caz

Bradfield wrote: »

In Wales, the opticians, like specsavers, write out the referrals to the hospitals but they have to go through the GP. So although you did not actually go back to see the GP, the GP would have got the referral from the opticians, added a few notes, and then got his or her secretary to post it on to the eye hospital.

I had cause to visit my own specsavers (in North Wales) last November as my vision was deteriorating in one eye. The optician spent over an hour examining the eye and eventually referred me to the eye hospital with a recommendation that I should be seen within two weeks.

Two months later (a couple of weeks ago) I received a letter from the eye hospital saying that I have been put on the waiting list and will be seen in 40 weeks time.

I have been back to see my GP and he said that they do not have the expertise that the opticians have and they just basically pass the referrals on to the eye-hospital. He has now written to the hospital asking for clarification of what is going on, having regard to the fact that the specsavers optician made a recommendation that I should be seen within two weeks.

Like you I am concerned that I am being denied early treatment that may prevent long lasting damage.

I have to say I do agree with nedmundo here. I think your GP should have been some-what more pro-active considering the acute nature of the symptoms. It is easy to judge in hind-sight and given the complicated procedures in place for eye treatment it is not surprising that people are simply not aware of what is the best course of action to take, when they have a problem. Once when I accidentally got some ammonia in my eyes, I simply went straight to an eye hospital and got immediate emergency treatment. I am thinking you might have been more than justified in taking the same course of action.

My local specsavers are always excellent. The problem here is getting an appointment with the eye-hospital who, in my case, have ignored the recommendations of my local optician.

Hi Bradfield.

Sorry to here about your vision problems too.

Now I am confused???

The second optician I saw wrote the letter himself for the hospital and didnt refer it to the GP at all, he said they do their own referrals now.
I am awaiting a call back from a local solicitor so will see what he says.

Bradfield

mike+caz wrote: »

Hi Bradfield.

Now I am confused???

The second optician I saw wrote the letter himself for the hospital and didnt refer it to the GP at all, he said they do their own referrals now.
I am awaiting a call back from a local solicitor so will see what he says.

Hi, Mike+Caz,

I do not want to cloud the issue, so will edit my post to save confusion until we get clarification.

I am thinking now that perhaps the optician refers directly to the eye hospital and sends a copy of the referral to the GP at the same time. Hope to find out more later today.

Best wishes

Bradfield

PS. Just received clarification that in my own case my referral from the optician to the eye hospital went via my GP.

Other regions may do things differently.

suki1964

I woke one morning with a very sore eye which got worse as the day went on. Went to specsavers that afternoon they advised drops and a return visit the following day ( Sunday). Following day was seen again and was referred as an emergency to the eye hospital. I had developed an ulcer

At no time was my GP involved in my treatment other then to dispense the prescription given to me by the hospital

I have always gone straight to my optician for any eye problems. Same as I would go to a dentist for mouth/teeth problems.

In your case I would not have waited weeks before seeking further advice, I'd have taken myself to the A+E dept of my nearest hospital.
Even NHS direct advise A+E immediately

Bradfield

Just got some useful information off a website called
lookafteryoureyes.org. The site is well worth a visit. Hope this information may be of some assistance to people experiencing eye problems who are not sure how the referral system works. Note* an “Optometrist” is an eye care specialist.

“Sometimes your optometrist may suggest that it would be wise to seek advice from either your general practitioner (GP) or a specialist.

If you need to be referred, your optometrist will inform you of the reasons for referral and write to your GP. You will also be told whether you need to make an appointment to see your GP or whether your GP will contact you.

If your optometrist has asked your GP to arrange a hospital appointment for you, your GP will normally send your optometrist’s letter, along with a covering letter with any relevant medical details, to the hospital. These letters will be read by the specialist at the hospital who will decide how urgently you need to be seen. The hospital will then write to you with an appointment time. You may request to see any letters that are written about you.

Optometrists may also refer patients directly to a hospital eye department rather than via the GP although they must inform your GP of their findings and the reason for the referral. You should also be given a copy of the referral letter.

In exceptional circumstances, where your eye condition requires urgent attention, it may be necessary for your optometrist to refer you directly to a hospital accident and emergency department. In this case, your optometrist will normally give you a letter to take with you and inform your GP of the reason for referral.”

nedmundo

Just because it says that on the 'net, it doesn't automatically make it correct.