Virtual Clinics

[Olalflel]

Good morning, I posted here 3 months ago regarding my experiences of the virtual clinic lack of follow up. In a nutshell-the hospital said that test results would be reviewed and I’d be informed of results within 2 weeks. Didn’t happen. I suppose that what I’m posting now is a cautionary tale: sometimes people assume that if you don’t hear anything then there’s no problem. I was told that myself and this is incorrect. In my case, my results weren’t reviewed by the consultant team until 4 months after my clinic visit and it was found that I have developed another eye condition that needs to be assessed at a different eye clinic. Obviously, I only found out about this because this department has contacted me to make an appointment. The ‘results letter’ from the glaucoma clinic had no results, just said, ‘keep taking the drops’ and no mention of anything else. I suppose one could argue that I have (eventually) been given a referral that may lead to treatment. On the other hand, I have experienced yet another delay which is not reassuring. Regarding the glaucoma, I just have an issue with this idea of arm’s length monitoring. Although I was only diagnosed 18 months ago, my condition has now been deemed stable with another assessment advised in 18 months time. To say I’m unhappy is an understatement. Thank you for reading.

[muddledme]

Hello Olalflel,

I agree with you that although the virtual clinics are needed now because of the huge workload and shortage of staff, they are not ideal.

Over the years I too have learnt not to assume that the results will always arrive despite what the staff say. My virtual clinic in Taunton often takes many weeks or months to relay any results. Test results can and do get lost in the system. I make a mark on the calendar to remind me to phone for any result.

I find one of the worst things is the inabillity to ask questions. and just get told that the doctor will decipher the tests. The staff are very good and the visit only takes about 1/2 hour but the interval between visits is taken from the date of the doctors report not from the actual visit.

Luckily in Somerset as in a few other counties there are specially trained 'glaucoma' optometrists , so I have someone else to turn to if I am worried and he is excellent for answering questions. The eye clinic will probably know if there is anyone in your area.

Also you can contact the consultant's secretary at the hospital by phone or email . They are often helpful and may book you in earlier if you are worried.

Once or twice I have been lucky to have quite important questions answered by a consultant on a Glaucoma UK webinar . The helpline is excellent and often gives me confidence.

Best wishes

[Beecalmed in reply to muddledme]

I concur with muddledme! I’ve had a hospital letter with important info in it never reach me in the past, so I always follow up with a phone call if a check date has passed. That was before Royal Mail’s current poor performance record too! Why are NHS still using Royal Mail to inform patients I wonder? An email might be safer or being able to download your letter from a secure website or something?

My last hospital letter following a virtual clinic wasn’t from my consultant but an associated dr in the team and didn’t specify when my next check up was due so I’ve called the secretary to check. I waited some months for that letter to arrive from memory. My glaucoma was deemed stable so I have to trust they’d have contacted me earlier if it was not. NHS backlog obviously adds to the concern that I might be overlooked.

I continue to pay to see a glaucoma specialist qualified optometrist every 6 mths to check my status. It stops me being in a constant state of anxiety which I think is bad for my health and my IOP. My glaucoma (even with a family history ) was missed by another optician and my vision loss dismissed as “nothing to worry about”for a year before being picked up by a clearly better optician for referral, so now I take no chances and get checked every 6 mths privately as a belt and braces.

My advice is follow your instincts if you feel there’s a problem with your eyes and be a “pain in the neck” if necessary. Being patient and polite I discovered is not necessarily the best approach with glaucoma, particularly when some types of glaucoma, though less common, are not so much a “slow secret thief of sight”, but as in my case a pretty speedy one, before I received treatment!

[Olalflel in reply to muddledme]

Thank you for replying and for your good suggestions. Luckily, I have an excellent optician so often have questions answered that way. As you say - it’s the inability to see/speak to a doctor that is the drawback for patients. Best wishes.

[Choirlover]

I agree with both your posts. I was seen by a virtual clinic in the middle of August 2023. I was also told I would get the results posted to me in two weeks. I noticed that my pressures had gone up to where they were in 2021 after which my medication was changed and I queried this with the technician. She dismissed me with the reply that the pressures had to be taken in context with all the other test results and that if there was a problem I would be informed. I finally received a letter at the beginning of February this year which stated that although I was on the higher side of the the range there were no other problems so to remain taking the drops. I am still not sure that I am being fobbed off but fortunately I do have a trained glaucoma ophthalmologist I see for regular eye tests and she is able to answer my questions - she was happy with the pressures in November last year although she took them in the morning after I had administered drops rather than the afternoon when I usually attend the clinic. I am now thinking about asking to transfer to another local hospital which seems to have better patient outcomes. Thank you to muddleme for telling me about the date of my next appointment being from the date of the letter - I did wonder as it was not made clear in the letter.

[Olalflel in reply to Choirlover]

Thank you for your reply. Like you, I find it interesting how the next appointment is made - hard not to see that as another opportunity to build in a little delay? Very frustrating. Also, with previous visits, the follow up letter has listed the results (acuity, pressures etc). The latest one from the virtual clinic had none - so again - another little worsening of patient experience- that’s my perception anyway. I have v high pressures and they were obviously higher than the norm so the technician had to call over a nurse to check them - of course, I don’t know what they were. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Best wishes.

[NewSh0e]

The only other thing I’d add to what’s been said above, is to consider a private consultant. I realise this isn’t within financial reach of everyone (and it shouldn’t need to be) but for my own peace of mind, having been “forgotten” by my local NHS glaucoma clinic during the pandemic, it has given me invaluable reassurance and peace of mind.

[Littlesnowflake in reply to NewSh0e]

I had recently decided to find a private consultant too, so these posts are timely for me. Can you suggest how best to find a good one please? Many thanks in anticipation.

[NewSh0e in reply to Littlesnowflake]

with pleasure, I looked on Top Doctors and Doctify for specialists in my area, then cross referenced with Google reviews and any articles I could find about them.

Then I figured I’d book a first consultation and see if I got a good feeling or not. Which, I’m very pleased to say, I did. I’ve been seeing mine for 18 months now and I’m convinced it’s an investment well made.

Hope that helps!

[Littlesnowflake in reply to Littlesnowflake]

Thanks for the info 😀

[Olalflel in reply to NewSh0e]

Thank you. I’m definitely going to do this and have started looking into it. Shame that we have to do this though, isn’t it?

Best wishes.

[NewSh0e]

with pleasure, I looked on Top Doctors and Doctify for specialists in my area, then cross referenced with Google reviews and any articles I could find about them.

Then I figured I’d book a first consultation and see if I got a good feeling or not. Which, I’m very pleased to say, I did. I’ve been seeing mine for 18 months now and I’m convinced it’s an investment well made.

Hope that helps!

[Olalflel]

Can I ask - are you seeing your private practitioner exclusively or in addition to NHS?

Initially, I am going to use a private appointment to get a second opinion.

Thanks.

[Lancashire7]

I too have had problems with the virtual review clinic.Results letters not being sent a disc haemorrhage being missed.I was sent to see a consultant but they did not inform me.There is too much scope for things to be missed.It is not a good system.