Appoinment for eye Clinic 2 1/2 year
- Thread starter roker
- Start date
truthseeker
Registered User
- Messages
- 2,577
roker - did you ring them up and try to get an earlier appointment? Sometimes they can put you down for a cancellation. Alternatively see if your GP can refer you to another public hospital that doesnt have such a busy Ophthalmology department.
Or pay to see a consultant privately. If you weigh up the cost of waiting 3 years in terms of your eyes versus the cost of paying a specialist privately - I know which one Id do.
flossie thats dreadful about the cataracts, similar happened with my hubbies granny so the family pulled together to pay privately - made a huge difference to her quality of life, age shouldnt be a factor.
Or pay to see a consultant privately. If you weigh up the cost of waiting 3 years in terms of your eyes versus the cost of paying a specialist privately - I know which one Id do.
flossie thats dreadful about the cataracts, similar happened with my hubbies granny so the family pulled together to pay privately - made a huge difference to her quality of life, age shouldnt be a factor.
In bad old days of eight months waiting for your driving test it was possible to inform your local centre you'd accept any cancellation and were available at short notice
Could you do the same here? Tell them you'll accept any possible appointment at short notice
If someone cancels then the slot is still there and the consultant is available so makes sense to move someone up
Could you do the same here? Tell them you'll accept any possible appointment at short notice
If someone cancels then the slot is still there and the consultant is available so makes sense to move someone up
Be nice, some of the Consultants work over 30 hours a week and can earn as little as €120 an hour.
Totally disagree - age is a factor - the woman concerned is 95! Subjecting an edlerly person to an operation like that is wrong,she might not even survive it. What's the point? I remember hearing a women in her seventies complain because she was not called for exam by Breast Check 'cos the age limit is 69 or similar. I remember thinking does she expect to live for ever? I could understand if someone had a wonderful quality of life but they often live in terrible conditions or awful nursing homes.
truthseeker
Registered User
- Messages
- 2,577
Words fail me. Do you not think that someone living in terrible conditions or an awful nursing home might have their life improved by the ability to see again? That it might allow them to read - one of few pleasures left for an old and frail person to enjoy. Its not even a surgery requiring a general anaesthetic so its highly unlikely someone would not survive it. Its not an 'operation' in that sense, its a day procedure, you dont get knocked out and you go home after the local numbing wears off. Quality of life should not have an age cut off point.
truthseeker, I wasn't aware that this is a day procedure, I did think it involved a general anesthetic so my apologies for that.
I do think the medical profession did go to extremes trying to keep people alive when the best treatment for the patient is to relieve pain and discomfort but let people die when its time. I don't know about you but I would dread to end up on a life support system for months or years.
I do think the medical profession did go to extremes trying to keep people alive when the best treatment for the patient is to relieve pain and discomfort but let people die when its time. I don't know about you but I would dread to end up on a life support system for months or years.
Makes your wishes known to your family
I've been watching ER and you can put on your record "Do not resuscitate" and "No heroic measures" and the docs will follow that
Ok it's American and over the top but maybe we have something similar
We don't! Some people get directives drawn up expressing the wish that no intervention is made in the case of circumstances..but even so it is up to the doctors involved to decide whether to abide by them or not.
My elderly father is in a nursing home and paying €1000 per week from his bank account in to theirs. He was told that he neded his hair cut last week by the head person. The poor man felt like a teenager again. Just because you are old doesn't mean that your life is over or that you do not have feelings.
My mother in law became ill around this time last year and spent several weeks in hospital. She was eventually diagnosed with bowel and lung cancer in November last year. She is still waiting for a prognosis or any idea of how they are going to treat her. she has always been a fairly active healthy woman, lifelong teetotal and non smoking and it is heartbreaking so see her disintegrate into a frail old lady within a year.
Her husband (second marriage) was diagnosed with lung cancer also in January and has already started treatment. He is an 80 year old smoker.
It is baffling as to how they decided who gets treated when
Her husband (second marriage) was diagnosed with lung cancer also in January and has already started treatment. He is an 80 year old smoker.
It is baffling as to how they decided who gets treated when
truthseeker
Registered User
- Messages
- 2,577
I would be against invasive extremes to keep someone alive - at any age.
But Im totally in favour of minor procedures that give a better quality of life or relieve discomfort and dont think they should be discriminatory based on age.
We have discussed with the old lady about paying to go private, but she won't have it. Although she isn't a relative, we are more than happy to pay ourselves, but she won't accept it. Tried reasonign with her that she would be able to see the TV clearer, read easier etc. but she is a stubborn mule! 
Although not able to get around on her own anymore (hence reason we care for her in our home now) she is fairly healthy and strong. Shame she won't accept getting the cataracts treated....
Although not able to get around on her own anymore (hence reason we care for her in our home now) she is fairly healthy and strong. Shame she won't accept getting the cataracts treated....