I work as an Optometrist in a busy optical retail practice.
I tested an elderly gentleman who i had referred for a cataract operation 6 months ago.
He finally managed to get the cataract operation two weeks ago.
His final check up was yesterday and he had to wait three hours before he was finally seen.
The ophthalmologist who saw him told him to go and get glasses and he will see him again in 12 months.
I was with this patient only 5 minutes before I realized something was wrong.
He could not see very much out of the eye he had the cataract removed from and looking at the retina showed a bleed at the macula region which should have been picked up yesterday.
I have lots of cases like these because the NHS has been stretched to the point of poor quality service and standards that would be described similar to that of the dark ages.
If this patient had gone private the ophthalmologist would have spent quality time and effort which he did not get from the NHS.
This is my experience of over thirteen years working in the Optometry profession.
I let you decide what standard of service you should go for.
I would rather open up an account and put money away for future medical expenses than rely on the joke that is the NHS.
The other option is to take out private medical care and not until you have experienced the difference in the services offered by the consultants and the unexperienced wannabes can you understand the difference.