NHS Visual Field Test Results

[CheshireResident]

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2004 and have been regularly monitored by the ophthalmogy department at my local NHS hospital where I have also received a number of treatments for glaucoma over the years. Because of this my Optometrist has not been giving me full VFTs as these would duplicate those done at the hospital. I am concerned that my fields may be deteriotrating and want to have them privately tested but need to have past results for comparitative purposes. I have obtained copies of the latest test that my Optometrist has but it is from 2020 and therefore of limited value. Can I get copies of the more recent tests done at the hospital? If so, should I request them direct from the Eye Care Centre or will I have to go through the formal Medical/Legal Services formal disclosure route?

Any help much appreciated.

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hello. To be honest I'm not sure. Call the eye secretary at the hospital to see firstly, if it's possible to get a copy of your last two visual field tests. You may get lucky and they just send them to you. I don't know when your next hospital appointment at the eye clinic is, but that would be another way to ask for them.

If they say it's not possible, ask exactly what you need to do to obtain the copies.

[rhys1234 in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

I second what Helen suggests : start by asking the Secretary of your Consultant.

You can find her/his name ( the Secretary) by asking the switchboard of the Hospital where you are seen.

Then you can ask her/him if you can have an email address so you can put the request in writing. And also thus give them an email address to which to send the vis field results.

I can't see why they would object if you explain the reason for the need.

Please report back on your findings !

[rhys1234 in reply to rhys1234]

PS: Why exactly is your last Vis field test from 2020 ?

Aren't you supposed to have them annually ?

Perhaps simplest to just ask for a new Vis Field test at the Hospital ? I was told the machine they do mine on cost £1,000,000 ( a million ). Doubt whether any commercial facility will have better equipment.

[Safehaven23]

I had to obtain mine too - from two hospitals. They have been digitised now so not something they could just run me a copy off and in the end it was only via help fom the ECLO that she negotiatedwith the secretaries in Records dept of the Eye Clinic . I had to apply to legally see my Medical Record and they sent me the links to do that - finally I reeived a link to my whole Record. I then had to go through it to find the Field Test results (which were there) over the 6 years in total I was treated at that paricular hospital. It was not easy - and in the end I had to get my Computer Engineer son to run them off for me - it was not just a case of click and print on my own equipment. It took me 6 momths to get it all together and had to keep going back to the hospital for another Field test as last one has to be within 3 months of the application for licence. I sent it all off with copies of letter fom Consultant to GP confirming stability over 7 years - omly slight change in right eye after cataracts removed 3 years earier. I sent it all off in early March this year - but heard nothing as yet. No point in ringing as only get through to a telephone person - who was helpful in telling I must send evidence with it - but was not medically trained to advise me more. Now of course it is over 5 momths since my last Field Test in January....no fault of my own,. Good Luck!

[Tequilasunrise]

I asked my consultant for a copy of my VFT, and was given one. No problem.

[CheshireResident]

Many thanks for your helpful responses.

UPDATE: I contacted the GP practice and asked for the results. I was told to contact the hopital direct as they could not obtain these results. I contacted the Consultant's secretary on Wednesday and she agreed to get my file from the records office. She did not know whether she could send them to me but agreed to let me know. She doesn't work Thursdays so I hope to hear tomorrow.

I'll give you another update when I hear from her.

[CheshireResident in reply to CheshireResident]

FINAL UPDATE

My Consultant's Secretary sent me copies of my last VFT by secure email yesterday. So I now have a baseline against which today's private test results can be compared. Let's hope there has not been significant deterioration!