Author Topic: GPs and eye issues...  (Read 2500 times)

GPs and eye issues...
« on: 20 December, 2018, 02:29:36 pm »
So today it looked like conjunctivitis (all the usual signs) in one of my eyes.  I called surgery at 8am to arrange the Doctor's triage phonecall to get an appoinment, and was told by the receptionist, you need to go into Boots or Opticians to get that looked at...  Eh ???  Apparently the surgery has been doing this for a while...   'See a doctor at Boots/Specsavers', never heard of that one...  Anyway down to Boots and saw the pharmacist who gave me Chloramphenicol drops (Optrex)...  Hopefully it will do the trick.

Anyone else heard of this happening?   Basically the surgery went to 15mins appointments, and triage candidates for each day, everyone else gets 3 weeks hence appointments.  So perhaps eye conditions get in the way and clog the system.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #1 on: 20 December, 2018, 02:36:05 pm »
Eye Doctors (Optometrists and Opthalmologists) usually work at Opticians (people who make and sell spectacles etc.) and don't need a referral from the GP to see them.
It does make sense really to go to the specialist directly.

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #2 on: 20 December, 2018, 02:41:29 pm »
Yeah, we would all head for the dentist first with toothache or gum abscess, so why not opticians for eye issues? Or in the case of conjuntivitis perhaps a pharmacy?
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #3 on: 20 December, 2018, 02:48:30 pm »
Ophthalmologist based in high street opticians on any day of the week?  Can an optometrist prescribe anything e.g. Fucithalmic drops?   TBH I didn't realise chlAMP was available 'over the counter'...

Mainly surprised that's all, it's been a while since I've had any eye issue.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #4 on: 20 December, 2018, 02:55:05 pm »
This is  the way forward. Optoms are eye specialists.

By coincidence I am currently  writing a paper on this,

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #5 on: 20 December, 2018, 03:07:26 pm »
Ophthalmologist based in high street opticians on any day of the week?  Can an optometrist prescribe anything e.g. Fucithalmic drops?   TBH I didn't realise chlAMP was available 'over the counter'...

Mainly surprised that's all, it's been a while since I've had any eye issue.

An Optometrist (aka opthalmic optician) can also, if suitable qualified, prescribe. An Opthalmologist is surgically qualified so I'd not expect them to be in a shop on a daily basis.
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

IJL

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #6 on: 20 December, 2018, 03:24:02 pm »
Conjunctivitis is generally viral and last about a week with or without meds, if its bacterial, chloramphenicol gets it better about half a day faster.  Pharmacies like chloramphenicol because they get a fiver for it. 

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #7 on: 20 December, 2018, 03:41:23 pm »
I would say that's good advice from the surgery. Conjunctivitis is a fairly straight forward diagnosis for either a pharmacist or optician & treatment is equally straight forward. They've not only saved a GP appointment for something more appropriate but saved you time spent sitting in the waiting room.

Hopefully you were advised not to share flannels and towels with other family members, conjunctivitis is infectious so you want to avoid sharing it.

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #8 on: 20 December, 2018, 05:23:32 pm »
very much best advice.  optometrists are trained in the diagnosis and management of eye conditions.  They know the danger signs, see eyes on a daily basis and are up to date with management.

you were seen by somebody appropriate, freed up a Gp slot and were treated quickly.  I would write a letter of thanks and appreciation for the quality of service you were offered.

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #9 on: 20 December, 2018, 05:29:36 pm »
Ophthalmologist based in high street opticians on any day of the week?  Can an optometrist prescribe anything e.g. Fucithalmic drops?   TBH I didn't realise chlAMP was available 'over the counter'...

Mainly surprised that's all, it's been a while since I've had any eye issue.

An Optometrist (aka opthalmic optician) can also, if suitable qualified, prescribe. An Opthalmologist is surgically qualified so I'd not expect them to be in a shop on a daily basis.

yes the former name of Opthalmic Optician keeps throwing me! although some of my former "Optician"s were MBChB
McOptom is the Optometrists qualification.

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #10 on: 20 December, 2018, 05:34:17 pm »
Those entitled to free prescriptions would seem to be at a disadvantage under this sort of system, how do they get the prescription?
Does the triage phone call to gp take this into account?

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #11 on: 20 December, 2018, 06:25:03 pm »
Conjunctivitis is generally viral and last about a week with or without meds, if its bacterial, chloramphenicol gets it better about half a day faster.  Pharmacies like chloramphenicol because they get a fiver for it.

'parently if it does happen to be bacterial conjunctivitis this can cause serious eye damage if left, which I why I guess one has treat all conjunctivitis rapidly...  I reckon mine was caused by someone's flailing finger catching me slightly in said eye a couple of days ago, so poss not conjunct caused by cold virus etc...
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #12 on: 20 December, 2018, 06:33:55 pm »
I had the opposite happen about 18 months ago. I had a problem with my vision. I'd only recently got new glasses, but this was a very sudden cloudiness in one eye, so I assumed there was no connection. I had two examinations by the optician, one which needed the pupil-dilating eye drops. The problem turned out to be a large 'floater', almost certainly nothing to worry about, but the optician wrote to my doctor and I had to go there for a check-up. The optician was paid by the NHS for the examinations; I saw the forms being completed.

Those entitled to free prescriptions would seem to be at a disadvantage under this sort of system, how do they get the prescription?
Does the triage phone call to gp take this into account?

Opticians can deal with people who get free eye-tests so I assume they would be able to apply the same rules for prescriptions.
"No matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch."

FifeingEejit

  • Not Small
Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #13 on: 20 December, 2018, 07:37:04 pm »
Opticians can deal with people who get free eye-tests so I assume they would be able to apply the same rules for prescriptions.

Same as with NHS Dentists, if you're qualified to Prescribe then it's a case of filling the forms in.
Though it might be slightly simpler up here...

Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #14 on: 20 December, 2018, 07:47:06 pm »
Those entitled to free prescriptions would seem to be at a disadvantage under this sort of system, how do they get the prescription?
Does the triage phone call to gp take this into account?

OTOH anyone who pays for prescriptions will be better off as the over the counter cost of Chloramphenicol is less than the cost of a prescription.

There's also an argument that their would be less pressure on the NHS if prescriptions weren't issued for items available at low cost.

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #15 on: 27 December, 2018, 12:05:56 pm »
So today it looked like conjunctivitis (all the usual signs) in one of my eyes.  I called surgery at 8am to arrange the Doctor's triage phonecall to get an appoinment, and was told by the receptionist, you need to go into Boots or Opticians to get that looked at...  Eh ???  Apparently the surgery has been doing this for a while...   'See a doctor at Boots/Specsavers', never heard of that one...  Anyway down to Boots and saw the pharmacist who gave me Chloramphenicol drops (Optrex)...  Hopefully it will do the trick.

Anyone else heard of this happening?   Basically the surgery went to 15mins appointments, and triage candidates for each day, everyone else gets 3 weeks hence appointments.  So perhaps eye conditions get in the way and clog the system.

Avoid boots as the medical review scandal is really the tip of the iceberg.

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: GPs and eye issues...
« Reply #16 on: 27 December, 2018, 12:08:50 pm »
Conjunctivitis is generally viral and last about a week with or without meds, if its bacterial, chloramphenicol gets it better about half a day faster.  Pharmacies like chloramphenicol because they get a fiver for it.

Tombola!

Chemists know fuck all about eyes.

Go see the ophthalmic people.