Care Opinion

The changes in the macular clinic

Posted By Lilyx23

"The changes in the macular clinic"

About: Mater Hospital / Macular Unit

(as a carer),

On visiting the clinic with my father I was told he couldn’t have his injection into his eye he would have to return in a week. This is totally unacceptable as he is 87 yrs old and the trip from home to clinic is 88 mile round trip. It totally exhausts him not to mention the additional costs of travel!

I am his only child and his carer but I also work in healthcare. This change means I also had to cancel appointments to enable this to happen.

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Responses

Response from Wendy Dobbin, Interim Assistant Service Manager, Ophthalmology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust about a year and a half ago
We have made a change
Wendy Dobbin
Interim Assistant Service Manager, Ophthalmology,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 11/10/2023 at 19:12
Published on Care Opinion at 21:00

Dear Lilyx23

Thank you for your comments regarding your father's recent visit to the Macular Clinic. We do welcome service user feedback for our own learning.

The arrangement whereby patients are booked to come back one week after imaging for injection was introduced as previously not all patients needed an injection straight after imaging and too many injection slots were being wasted on the same day appointment system.

By booking back, all slots for the next week's injections are used. An extra 425 injections have been given this year so far, using this system. We do appreciate travelling to Belfast can be inconvenient for those patients living some distance away, and apologise for the inconvenience.

We have introduced an explanatory letter to accompany the appointment letter sent out to patients. This explains the recent change, and gives notice to patients and carers in advance of their visit.

Kind regards

Wendy Dobbin

Interim Assistant Service Manager Ophthalmology

B.H.S.C.T

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