GP Services Seem Almost Nonexistent

kirtondm

Hmm it depends on the area a lot , as an optometrist I treat this all the time. IF it is just an abrasion then it requires an antibotic ointment for a week ( drops wont be comfotable enough ) then ointment ongoing esp overnight ongoing. 
Bear in mind not all eye units will accept walk ins so may insist on a referral from optom/gp.

More and more optoms are taking Independent prescribing courses as this is the future. GP's have not got the training or equipment to deal with eyes.
II would be wary of going to MIU regarding eyes

Undervalued

kirtondm said:

Hmm it depends on the area a lot , as an optometrist I treat this all the time. IF it is just an abrasion then it requires an antibotic ointment for a week ( drops wont be comfotable enough ) then ointment ongoing esp overnight ongoing. 
Bear in mind not all eye units will accept walk ins so may insist on a referral from optom/gp.

More and more optoms are taking Independent prescribing courses as this is the future. GP's have not got the training or equipment to deal with eyes.
II would be wary of going to MIU regarding eyes

Exactly.

Many years ago a GP I knew well said to me quite candidly that she knew very little about eyes and didn't have the equipment even if she did. Also, back then she could only get two types of eye referral - 3 hours or 3 months!

Round here we have an NHS minor eye condition service run by a number of specially trained optometrists. The eye clinic at the major teaching hospital put lots of more routine work out to them. They in turn can refer you directly and very quickly to the hospital eye clinic when necessary.

Torry_Quine

Opticians can refer to the eye clinic, that would be what I'd do. 
Hope you get it sorted

[Deleted User]

This is getting slightly frustrating lol.  I am hoping to ask my GP for a referral to eye specialist clinic.  I didn't pursue asking an optician for a referral as posts on here said they wouldn't help lol.   But if they eye specialist will only say use antibiotic ointment not a lot of point as I was given that when the original injury happened.

I am now wondering again if there is any point in making all the fuss for GP to call me. They haven't called yet so perhaps I'm better off just hoping it'll heal on its own rather than making a fuss.  I think that's what I'll do, I don't want to make a fuss about nothing.

This is getting me a bit stressed so I won't look at the thread anymore.  Sorry.

Katiehound

deannatrois said:

  But if they eye specialist will only say use antibiotic ointment not a lot of point as I was given that when the original injury happened.
This is getting me a bit stressed so I won't look at the thread anymore.  Sorry.

well, that's a shame because such an eye injury isn't nothing- it hasn't been in my case. They may well use antibiotic drops in the first instance but if that doesn't work then move to the next stage. With anything they try the simplest treatment first. However if you have already had that they are likely to read the notes and try the next tack.
 You don't actually know what  a consultant will use- that is supposition on your part.

It can't be that bad if you are going to let it 'cure itself'  Mine was truly horrendous and I would have willingly camped out at a clinic if that had been possible!

Hope yours does heal up. It is a nasty thing (generally caused by: cat claws, baby's fingernails and the edge of a newspaper.)

KxMx

I had an issue picked up by the opticians. 

Their referral went to the triage service who send you to Hospital or private opthalmology clinic, designed to take the strain off Hospital. 

If you do get sent to the clinic they can refer you onto Hospital if it turns out to be needed. 

[Deleted User]

The thing is there is probably a walk in emergency eye clinic you could of attended days ago and wouldn’t need a referral at all. 

Your risking your eye health. 

[Deleted User]

OK, problem has occurred again, lot of pain.  Spoke to GP earlier today, she said she didn't know this area, no idea where I should go.., suggested Queen Mary's in Sidcup (miles and miles away).  She wasn't at all sure.  I look it up online, it only runs children's Eye clinic. s.  No idea if they will look at  an adults problem or where I should go, if I should go after a highly stressful journey.  It will take time to apply for the volunteer travel help I talked about earlier.  But obviously the pain I keep getting makes it feel more urgent. So frustrated.  My local Asda Optician, you can only go to with an appointment, if she will recommend where I go with accuracy I don't know.

The discomfort really is quite bad.  I just need to know where to go where they won't turn me away, increasing the stress and embarrassment.

I don't want to risk my eye health, it just seems to be a specialist area and I can't get accurate advice on where to go.  Tomorrow I will go, just need someone somewhere to know where I should go.  I live in Gravesend, Kent..

I used this link https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Eye-accident-and-emergency-services/DA11-9EJ/Results/656/0.32628858089447/51.4466514587402/1858/0?distance=25 it suggests Moorfields (18 miles away), close to tube so I could get there but the Moorfields site says they won't see patients not within local area and it has to be a sight threatening condition (obviously I can see if in pain) . https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/service/accident-emergency

Its just so difficult to know where to go.  And who to ask with any surety they will know.  This has been going on for two months.  111 told me to go to a place that was closed. GP tells me to go somewhere with only children's eye treatment.  Where am I supposed to go?  I can't spend a day travelling around the country getting more and more stressed I will crack up.

[Deleted User]

I have now written a begging email  to the GP surgery asking to be told where to go where they will see me for an assessment.  Hopefully that will be referred to someone who can help.  Sorry, but its so painful and its been going on for so long and I'm no nearer getting the assessment than I was two months ago,.Sorry for typos.

Torry_Quine

Maybe Scotland is different but here in normal hours you go to the optician who refer you to the eye clinic. My relative has had this more than once. On one occasion the optician called the eye clinic while they were there and they got an appointment for the next day. You need an urgent referral not waiting for an assessment.