Optician's Referral For Cataract Surgery

[barry1010]

As Boots Opticians was so quick to want to refer my wife for surgery I can't help but wonder if they get some sort of bonus for doing so.  They were really pushing the private hospital 'of her choice' falsely telling her the NHS waiting list is 9 months to a year (it is four months maximum).

The optician is well aware that my wife has other eye problems and sees her consultant every 3 months.  The consultant says surgery could have complications and to leave it as long as possible.  He was very unhappy with Boots.

She's sticking with the consultant's advice.

[naomi24]

I have a friend who needs cataracts done.  He was told that Specsavers now do it on behalf of the NHS and waiting times are short.

[barry1010]

Yes, this was a referral to a private hospital of her choice with the NHS footing the bill.  The eagerness to get her booked in concerns me, no consultation with her consultant.  What's in it for Boots, Specsavers and other opticians?

[naomi24]

The NHS must be paying them but it's not that they're doing operations unnecessarily.  Your wife will know if she has cataracts.  They can't fake it. 

[albaqwerty]

I'd voice my concerns to both a boss at Boots and the private hospital, it's possible that there could be a small mutual handshaking arrangement between the optician and a person rather than the whole of Boots.

[Canary42]

Poor little optician trying to do her best, and all you can do is suspect backhanders. How sad.

[david small]

My wife just had two cataracts done privately. £5,200 later. But because of a slack eye muscle, prismatic glasses needed to stop double vision occurring. Another £550. And she still has to wear glasses.
It was quick though. What price eyesight? Priceless.

[barry1010]

Exactly that, David. With her other eye conditions, surgery when not necessary would be foolhardy and of course her optician was aware of them.

Naturally they couldn't prescribe her new glasses because of the cataracts.  Her consultant says the cataracts are very mild and are a long way from necessary. My wife says she isn't aware of them.

By the way, my glasses are prismatic and also very expensive. Been that way for many years ☹️

[barry1010]

Good point,alba

[douglas9401]

No mods checking for libelous content today?

I've seen them jumping up and down for less.

[barry1010]

Simply a question asking if opticians get paid for referrals.

[douglas9401]

I was referring to the 'good point' at 18:14, not the whole piece.

Maybe another custodian of the boards could have a look to head off Sue, Grabbit and Runne at the pass.

[Peter Pedant]

it is a bit like advice on AB - some good some bad

[Peter Pedant]

it is a bit like advice on AB - some good some bad

chrissakes Barry IS a mod so yes there was mod input which passed. Jesus.

 

[Barmaid]

Barry, I'm on my phone I can't do links but if you Google Specsavers and Spamedica, you might find a link to an informative Guardian article. It seems sometimes a referral fee can be paid. 

I'd actually complain about this given Mrs Barry is already under a consultant.

[barry1010]

Thank you, Barmaid. They were going to book a date for the op but she was adamant not until she'd seen her consultant about it.

[albaqwerty]

One of my dil's is waiting for her 2nd cataract surgery and recently went for an eye test, something to do with driving licence, however the optician just provided an eye test, nice and simple.

No scaring patient with tales of waiting times and no urging of private surgery. 

[Barmaid]

I have to say,  around 30 years ago I had an eye test and was prescribed v expensive glasses for driving at night.  About 7 years ago, I had another eye test and was told that my eyesight for distance etc was excellent and I did not need glasses for driving at night at all. That had seriously affected my confidence at night for many years.

[Henry1865]

I have no proof, but suspect that optomotrists at Specsavers, (now that the firm is changing its shops into franchises), may be motivated by profit, rather than simply being required to provide an impartial technical report.