How about that for a laugh?

[Ayayay80]

Just to cheer you up! It seems that some of the staff at our hospital don't know the right eye from the left. So even they cannot see properly! When my angiogram was done five weeks ago they concentrated mainly on the wrong eye and even when I queried it they refused to acknowledge their mistake. When today I asked the consultant - a very, very nice man - at my review he apoligised and admitted that the staff had made an error. Luckily he had enough data of the relevant eye - so no harm done.

[Hidden]

OMG. Lucky for you he had data but that's a mistake that should never have happened.

I did once confuse my consultant who said "left eye?" To which I unthinkingky replied "right" meaning "correct" and she checked the right eye, looked at my notes, chuckled to herself then put a black dot over my left eye! Neither of us said anything but we both smiled.

On a serious note, the technicians should have double checked if the patient is adamant, regardless what the file said. Glad you suffered no harm from their stubbornness x

[Ayayay80 in reply to Hidden]

Hi eyesright

That day, five weeks ago, was one of those days one rather forgets. My appointment was for 10am. After waiting 30 minutes to be called I asked at the desk if they were running late and if I was waiting in the right place. No not late; yes in right place. They call you when they are ready for you, they said. 11am and I was still waiting. I went to the desk again. Just be patient, they said. People were coming and going all the time. By 11.30 I really got stressed out. I knew something was wrong. So I went to the desk a third time and insisted they find out what's going on. I was finally called in, but not before they had sent someone to fetch my case notes. The nurse told me she didn't know I had arrived, which is rubbish because we have to book ourself in on the computer. She would not admit it at first that she had overlooked me, but I got her to admit it in the end. I can be stubborn too. She was very apologetic and they are really very nice all in all. And then some of the fluorosein went over my trouses instead into my veins and finally the wrong eye. Three and a half hours after my supposed appointment time, having spent so much nervous energy, I walked out of the hospital, feeling totally exhausted. After that experience I did wonder if I could trust them with my eyes. but I suppose mistakes do happen.

[Hidden in reply to Ayayay80]

You've had your quota, plain sailing from now lol x

[Hidden]

I have that potential problem when asked "It's your left eye we are doing today?" Reply "Right." I now endeavour to reply "Correct".

The hospital I visit, Royal Liverpool, are meticulous though. Even though I have seen the same receptionist and most of the other staff at least 60 times they always check at every stage of my progress through the system.

Two months ago I witnessed the result of their thoroughness, someone was called for images and minutes later arrived back in the waitking area. Wrong patient but identical name to another present at the same time.

The routine DoB check had revealed the potential error.

[Ayayay80 in reply to Hidden]

It was just one of those days when everything that could go wrong went wrong. These things are sent to try us - and try me they did - especially as it was at the beginning of my journey when I was still trying to come to terms with my diagnosis. I have not experienced blunders like that since that time.

[Hidden in reply to Ayayay80]

At least we learn to look out for ourselves more and/or close family members. A couple of years ago my wife suffered bowel cancer, there was an attempt to fob her off waiting for surgery months hence when it could easily have spread irretrievably. It was fortunate in that case that I caught the consultant flat footed and reminded her that she had already exceeded the mandatory time limit by 3 weeks due to laxness if her support team. My wife was operated on 3 days later but by that time was Stage 2, a few more days and she could have been Stage 3 and in very different scenario. She is now fit and well.

[Ayayay80 in reply to Hidden]

Well done, both of you! Indeed, we have to look out for ourselves. When after being diagnosed with AMD after a routine eye test the optitian told me I did not yet need treatment and to come back in a years time. They did not refer me. I went to my GP who referred me to the hospital and two months later I was diagnosed with wet AMD and all sorts of complications. It proves how easily something can be overlooked and that we sometimes have to make a stand.

All the best to both of you.

[Hidden in reply to Ayayay80]

Well done to you too taking pre-emptive action. There is one slight advantage that as a cancer sufferer we can self-refer albeit via a GP, this condition is so rare that a GP in their entire career is not likely to see more than one OM patient and most would be v brave not to refer us as requested. Indeed, my GP simply says "You know more about this than I do, what do you want me to do?"

One thing we learn at an early stage with this condition is that if you are to stay alive you must take charge of your own treatment path. To do that you require knowledge without which it is impossible to plan your treatment strategy.

When visiting a clinic having someone with you to help remember what you are told is v sensible. Having questions written down beforehand is very useful and when a treatment is suggested it is often worth asking if other options are available and if so why the treatment suggested would be the preferred one. All too often a treatment is offered simply because that happens to be the one available at that centre. Scans in particular tend to be restricted only to those they have immediate access to. One reason I make a 5hrs+ journey to Southampton every 6 months.

Each time a hospital carries out a treatment or procedure it receives a payment. Privatisation in disguise!