Publicity for Glaucoma

[muddledme]

A local BBC T.V programme called Points West is interested in a case study of a patient with Glaucoma.

They want someone in the area covered (Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wilts, and parts of Devon and Cornwall) They also would like to interview someone who has been adversely affected and lost vision because of cancellations and delays etc.

It does seem a good opportunity to highlight the plight of Glaucoma.

The BBC would visit at home and it would take about half an hour.

I have all the details , so if you are interested please contact me on this forum.

Thank you.

[muddledme]

Sorry , my mistake probably does not include Cornwall but may reach parts of Dorset.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Thanks for sharing this.

[mrswaffle]

I live in North Dorset and have just found out that my “annual” (I use the term in its loosest sense, as the NHS seem to do ) check-up is delayed. I was last seen in May last year and it may be months before I get another appointment. I have glaucoma, a cataract, occasional blepharitis. I am currently arranging to see a specialist privately. His secretary told me I am one of many. Don’t know if I’m the sort of patient they’re looking for as I don’t know how much of my sight deterioration is attributable to eye conditions and how much to old age (I’ll be 72 next week).

[muddledme in reply to mrswaffle]

Thank you mrswaffle,

What you say is very interesting about being one of many seeing specialists privately, as is often mentioned on the forum.Also the long , worrying delays...even prior to Covid.

Sadly I think the BBC want drama, and seemed to want to find someone who had lost some vision through delays. Although of course this is difficult to prove.

I will have a chat with the BBC and maybe they would understand the huge problems that all eye patients face because of risk of loss of vision.

Hopefully someone will listen !

[mrswaffle in reply to muddledme]

Thank you for that! I would like to help expose the chaos that appears to characterise NHS eye services (which dates back to before the pandemic) but I am drama-averse! The idea of crying on camera is anathema to me! And it’s what telly people can’t get enough of. I sometimes shout at the telly “get a grip”, when I see people on telly, blubbing about ordinary, everyday problems that most of us have been routinely dealing with all our lives. Ooh, sorry, got carried away there! Take care!

[muddledme in reply to mrswaffle]

Sorry, I did not mean you have to be a drama queen !

They just want people to state that they may have had some sight loss because of delays. This I know is difficult ...but will persevere !