Ds16 was told his eye surgery was urgent back in October yet…

[Alfreddoeblin]

Ds 16 has keratoconous. Last year in October he was told at eye clinic that he'd need surgery to stop it progressing, preferably within the next few months. In December we received a digital ‘survey’ asking if he still needed surgery. Obviously we confirmed that he did but were a bit concerned that we needed to be asked this. I contacted the hospital and was told that the waiting list was very long and he was still on it.
Fast forward to April we’ve just received another survey asking the same thing. Considering that the doctor told us last year that the surgery was fairly urgent and couldn’t wait until the following summer after exams I find it ironic that we will soon be in summer and he still hasn’t had it. Anything I can do to get things moving or do we just have to put up ?

You can try Pals though waiting lists are crazily long at the moment. I have been needing breast reconstruction since Dec 21 and it won't be until 2025 or spend £25k to go private and have it done in same hospital with same surgeon with 3 months wait.

The survey will probably be because some people who go private forget to tell the NHS and then dont get taken off the waiting list of its likely automated

Can you phone the consultants secretary to see how long the waiting list is currently? It might also be worth making then aware you are available for last minute cancellations, if you can be available for them?

Waiting lists are crazy at the moment. My 10 year old has been waiting since November 2021 and now he needs his operation in 2 parts because of the damage caused by waiting so long. When he was born the Drs said he needs to come out right now and then I had to wait another day because there were people more urgent than me. Then he needed antibiotics because my waters had been broken more than 48 hours. It's really rubbish all round because the Drs tell you what needs to happen and then they can't deliver it.

I would contact PALs and query waiting time. The "surveys" are normal as hospitals still have a lot of people who just don't turn up for appointments which are then wasted. I recently had 3 such surveys checking if I still needed my appointment (I did).

Thanks everyone. May try PALS. Used them a few years ago and they were very helpful.

PALS and absolutely torture the life out of his consultant’s secretary - worked for us!! We were quoted an 18 month wait and got it down to 6 months by being persistent and placing an emphasis on how much DD was deteriorating/how it was effecting her mental health too