Glaucoma patient has had checkups cancelled for two years

Posted: August 30, 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence 

96-year-old Barbara Lucas, from Lye near Stourbridge, has not received a checkup for her glaucoma in two years. After enduring cancellations and rearrangements of eleven checkups, her daughter, Anne Harris, argues that something must be done.

Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley continued to cancel and reschedule Mrs. Lucas’ appointments for a period of two years, only to cancel them again. This was only discovered when Mrs. Lucas’ daughter discovered a folder of hospital letters in her mother’s home, rescheduling cancelled appointments. She said: “Some of the rearranged appointments were scheduled for dates and times earlier than the original appointment”.

“It surprises me that this can happen”

Mrs. Lucas, now almost blind in one eye, said that when she first got checkups regarding her eye trouble, she was being seen at the hospital every six months. After now not having seen a doctor in two years, she said: “It surprises me that this can happen”.

The chief executive of Russells Hall Hospital, Paula Clarke, admitted that such a low level of care “is not good enough”. Mrs. Lucas has an appointment scheduled for October, but Mrs. Harris still believes that the hospital’s service “needs sorting” so that other people do not face the same issue. She also argues that it is unfair for the public to pay for hospitals to continuously rearrange appointments in this manner.

Paula Clarke has given no information regarding a solution to the issue, only apologising for the poor service.

If you have been affected by medical negligence, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us. 

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