Just returned from my annual eye screening appointment at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre . I'm a Type 1 diabetic and in danger of getting diabetic retinopathy , so screening is important.
I try to arrange the appointment early in the day , so the effect of the eye drops wears off so I can drive home in the evening . Popped out of work, walked and got down there at 9.25 for a 9.30 appointment . Usually the two practitioners carrying out the test are busy brewing up and drinking tea so it's rare that the appointment commences at the arranged appointment time , and when they carry out the test they are usually miserable and uncommunicative . This morning much to my surprise I was called in bang on time at 9.30. There was just one practitioner , a pleasant friendly young lady. She explained the test , asked lots of questions, did her job and all in all was totally professional .
When she'd finished I congratulated her , told her that her approach made such a pleasant change , but asked her why she was on her own. She said she worked for Emis Care , a private company contracted to the NHS to do the diabetic eye screening programme . I guess they don't think it's necessary for two people to carry out such straight forward screening .
If this is the effect of " private provision " on the NHS I'm certainly not complaining.
However quite topically I hobbled into a consultants clinic yesterday for a private appointment (top specialist in the NW, very well recommended and a Professor in his field) I expected to be told that I needed replacement surgery but that didn't transpire. He recommended a simple (but painful I understand) injection as the next step. Point being the health industry is not as mercenary as we might think.