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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Is Moorfields same as Great Ormond St for eyes?

16 replies

skewiff · 01/03/2011 22:00

DS has been going to Moorfields for 2 years as he has a squint.

Every time I have been there I've left feeling incredibly confused. We see several different professionals each time and every time we go back they are different. They all have different abilities at testing DS (who is very devious) and all have different professional opinions about his eyes/ eyes in general.

I am a very questioning person and have got totally fed up with going there.

Is Great Ormond St any better/ suitable for a child with a mild squint (connected to mild CP)????

OP posts:

wasuup3000 · 01/03/2011 23:18

Moorfields? Is that the eye specialist hospital in Liverpool?
Have you asked the professionals what their opinion is about his eyes?
Does he wear a patch and have glasses? Are they considering an operation to straighten the weak muscles in his eye?
Eyes change a lot before the age of 7 and any treatment such as glasses or patches can work really well to strengthen the eyes.
And your sons eye consultant can get a very clear picture of whatever the problem is by using age drops to test him as well as the usual cards and coordination tests.
It might be that his eye has improved since last time because of glasses and patching so much so that the treatment plan may have changed.
It is normal to get assessed over a period of time for an eye that turns before the age of 7 and an operation will only usually be offered if the turn is significant and not responding to treatment.
Great Ormond Street is a long journey from Liverpool if it is Liverpool that you mean, to maybe go through the whole come back in a couple of months things for however long it takes.
Write to your sons consultant with all the questions you have and try and get some answers first maybe?

wasuup3000 · 01/03/2011 23:19

eye drops not age...

bettyboop63 · 02/03/2011 08:38

i used to be an opticians assistand basically yes moorefields is the top notch best place to be sent for anything to do with your eyesight, id stick with them but be more upfront dont worry about offending say i HAVE to see the same consultant explaining yr dc problems and why its vital he has continuity of care like all really big hospitals they have a lot of registras ect and this maybe whats happed to you (its nr the barbican in London) and if you want the best for his eyesight i wouldnt change to great ormond st for this kind of problem its not really their dept IYSWIM

AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/03/2011 08:42

I would have to concur with bettyboop. I would also be sticking with Moorfields and see if it is possible to see the same person or team each time. Continuity of care is vitally important.

bigcar · 02/03/2011 09:20

I'd stick with moorfields personally. There are some very good consultants that work out of gosh but I'd still keep up with moorfields. Is it the doctor that keeps changing or the orthoptist? Orthoptists tend to work as a team so you see who ever picks up your card, but agree, some are better than others. Do you stick to the same day each time you go, that can help, and you can always ask to see a specific person when you book the appointment rather than just the 'team' and mention that again when you check in.

wasuup3000 · 02/03/2011 09:45

Just googled it know where it is now LOL! :)

vjg13 · 02/03/2011 11:42

My daughter had a squint and had all her visits at Manchester eye hospital. The clinic visits every six months or so were very busy and hectic. Seeing the orthoptist, optometrist and the consultant each time with loads of waiting.

We pushed for early surgical correction in the end and she had it about age 7. It worked well and she now just visits the optician yearly.

Moorfields has the reputation of being the best place in the country so I too would continue there.

Oblomov · 02/03/2011 11:56

Moorfields is supposed to be the best. Considered it myself for ds1 who has a squint.

Original poster

skewiff · 02/03/2011 15:47

We see different orthoptists and doctors each time. I have been happy with the more experienced people but can immediately tell when someone has only just started and is not sure of what they're doing. I particularly find it hard when they are not very good/ don't seem very keen on children - as this is when my son plays up.

Thank you for your advice. I will ask if I can see the same person every time - if that is possible it will make things a lot better I hope.

OP posts:

lolaismyfavouriteandmybest · 02/03/2011 21:58

We saw the paediatric ophthalmologist from Moorfields at GOSH. We were told the departments were linked.

He wasn't the right consultant for us though. We now travel to Leicester as that is where the expert for our rare condition is.

Arabica · 02/03/2011 23:53

DD has a squint too and needs regular appointments. Moorfields do a lot of outreach clinics--and it's always the same team so you get to know the orthoptist. Perhaps you could see if a team comes to a child development centre near you (probably has to be London).

Original poster

skewiff · 03/03/2011 10:16

Oh yes,

that's a good idea. I'm going into our child development centre today so will ask them ...

OP posts:

loueytb3 · 03/03/2011 16:43

DS1 goes to a Moorfields outreach clinic at Northwick Park Hospital (in fact we are going there in 2wks). We still don't see the same consultant every time though and the waiting room is a nightmare. The alternative is travelling into central london so I don't think its easy either way.

You have my sympathies skewiff as DS1 often doesn't want to co-operate and some of the orthopists/Drs are better than others are dealing with it.

Original poster

skewiff · 03/03/2011 22:19

I asked at our child development centre today, but they don't have a Moorfields outreach clinic.

Perhaps I'll look into whether our local hospital does (although what you've said loueytb3 doesn't make it sound that much better) - I was born at Northwick Park Hospital, funnily, and worked there for a bit too.

OP posts:

loueytb3 · 05/03/2011 20:41

Actually, thinking of it, DS1 was referred about his eye before we ever got to CDC, the referral was from his GP. I think it would be worth you phoning Moorfields and asking them as they should have a list of all their outreach clinics. It was easier to go to the clinic at Northwick Park when they were babies as I didn't fancy trekking into central london. Now it would probably be easier than being crammed into that waiting room. They are suypposed to be getting a new room with more facilities but god knows when.

eicosapentaenoic · 23/07/2011 23:30

Different professional opinions each time/doctor-shopping: Maybe consider 'second opinion' with specialist Moorfields or GOS or independent consultant in private practice - search on paediatric strabismus, book direct with secretary, pay. Cost normally relates to private insurance rates, eg £180 first consultation, price inflated for Harley St. We did this for reassurance, to check we were getting current advice, time to ask the questions, pleasant handshake, carpet, pot plant... then continued to negotiate NHS with more confidence, I know it's not easy. We are GOS ophth for something different - underfunded, dysfunctional, frustrating, fabulous, depends who you get... You need to research and love your paed surgeon if that's the way it's going to go.

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