"Feel as though the rest of my life has been put on hold"

I woke up early, rubbed my eyes, blinked a few times and then realised something wasn't right with my left eye.  I've had very poor eyesight, corrected by glasses for shortsightedness, for a very long time, but I thought it odd that it seemed as if I something had been pulled down over the top of my eye partially obstructing my vision.  At first I thought the obstruction would correct itself as the day wore on, but it didn't so I took myself to A & E at Crosshouse Hospital that evening.  I was seen within four hours and was referred for surgery later that week at Ayr Hospital .

It turned out my retina had detached in several places.  My surgery was booked and everything seemed to go as planned. The ophthalmology staff were friendly, kind and professional.  I felt I was in good hands.  I was informed that I would require another surgery to remove silicon oil in my eye and cataracts that were anticipated to develop. I was also told that after the second surgery it was possible that, after years with extremely poor vision, it was possible I could have vastly improved vision in my left eye.  I felt hopeful and optimistic despite the condition of my left eye.  Follow-up appointments were attended and all seemed to be going well.  I was given a date for when to expect the second surgery to be done.

I received a letter stating that the second surgery was scheduled, with a follow-up appointment, both with the surgeon who had performed the initial surgery.  In anticipation of the surgery, I notified my employer not to put me on the rota, as I was told to expect a four-week sick line.  Just one week prior to the scheduled surgery I was told that it was being postponed because they forgot that my surgeon was going on maternity leave.  I felt disappointed and began to question the administrative competency of a department that led me to believe my eyesight would be restored, scheduled it, and then forgot one of its surgeons (there are only two surgeons there) was pregnant and taking maternity leave.  It may explain, however, why it appears that Ayrshire & Arran's Ophthalmology Department currently only has one surgeon and seems to have not made any provision to replace the surgeon while on maternity leave.

My second eye surgery was performed earlier this year.  I expected after that surgery that my vision would be restored and I could begin the process of purchasing new eyeglasses, but that didn't happen.  It turned out that the first surgery hadn't been done correctly and, essentially, had to be done again. I was back in surgery and was told to expect my final surgery to be done sometime in the summer.  As you can imagine, I've eagerly anticipated a letter in the post with the date of my final surgery.

I feel disappointed and often dejected each day when no letter arrives in the post. I received a letter with a 12 or 18 week guarantee for the next surgery (it was difficult to decipher which guarantee applied to me).  It has been 18 weeks since the date of that letter so I called the Ophthalmology Department today and was informed that I'd been pencilled in for almost 13 months since my retina detached. 

I feel angry now. I feel like I've been let down by the NHS and the British government. I've continued to work full-time and pay taxes but feel as though the rest of my life has been put on hold because of the failure of the NHS to properly plan for a surgeon's maternity leave. 

I simply don't understand why NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Ophthalmology Department are posting written treatment time guarantees that they know full well they cannot keep.  Now I don't feel as though I can trust them, and frankly I'm sick and tired of hearing the same excuse whenever I call that they only have one surgeon at the moment.

The consequences of NHS Ayrshire & Arran's failure to properly staff its Ophthalmology Department and to properly manage patient expectations are as follows:

1.   It is much more difficult for me to perform my job as a carer.

2.  I'm unable to obtain a full driving license and am afraid I will lose my driving license if pulled over by the police.

3.  The increased difficulties performing everyday tasks at home and at work has contributed to several episodes of deep depression.

4.  I assist with activities at a care home and am unable to drive residents anywhere because I'm unable at the moment to obtain a full driving license.

5.  I've not taken or planned any holidays in the past year because of the lack of sight in my left eye.

6.  I frequently bump into things, spill things and am generally much more accident prone because of lack of vision in my left eye.

7.  Since my last surgery I've suffered three painful tears or abrasions to my left cornea requiring time away from work.  I went to a local optician to get medication the last time it happened and was told it was likely the vision in my left eye would have some degree of obstruction permanently.  This was news to me, causing me once again to question either the competency or honesty of the Ophthalmology Department at NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

My feelings about the NHS range from anger to disappointment to dejectedness. My support for the NHS has waned and I'm questioning whether it's good value for the taxes paid anymore.