Well I certainly opened up a can of worms when I complained about New Cross failing to let me know what was wrong with my eyesight and discharging me without explaining what had gone wrong. According to my new lady GP they had told them there was no sign of any blood clot that may have cause a stroke so I had been discharged. She told me there was no need to continue taking blood thinning medicines but, of course I really ought to be on several poisons for my blood pressure.

Well at New Cross I had a swift reply by email and a couple of phone calls apologising for need to complain and it was quite clear from the tone of the conversations they were worried I wanted money off them. I quickly pointed out that I wanted treatment and that I was mainly concerned about the loss of periphery vision in the right eye, which had been confirmed by the Tesco optician.  Tuesday I was told I had an appointment with a consultant on Thursday at 160o hours.  Later that day I got another call from Wendy (chief groveller) to make sure I knew I had the appointment.

Some things don’t change, there were still no signs directing you to the departments and even though the buildings were marked on the main map, the departments they contained was not. For example I was told to go to ‘heart & lungs’ which does not exist anywhere officially.  Once again I had to ask a passing nurse where I should go and using the alternative name for the clinic, TIA, I managed to get there on time. They must have been a tadge worried as dead on four o’clock I was taken for the first check up and saw the consultant ten minutes later.

Couple of strange things; 1) Locum had worked at New Cross for three years – how many more would she have to work there before qualifying for full time status?  2) Consultant apparently knew his stuff and claimed that my eyesight was damaged because the ‘stroke’ had damaged a tiny part of my brain that interpreted the info fed from the optical nerve.

Now it kind of falls apart here as, despite his attempts to blind me with science he was making a few mistakes. He went into detail explaining GCE Science level left half of brain controls right side of vision but, then using his computer to show me the damaged spot went on to point at the right side of my brain. If I had not been alerted to his showmanship I might have become alarmed that everytime he clicked the mouse on the illustration of my brain even more parts died. I think he was merely highlighting a convenient point to fit in with his lecture.  I let that go as it was clear, he was convinced I did not need to be refereed to the eye infirmary. To be fair, the eye test at Tesco shows loss of periphery vision in both eyes in the same area so I most likely am brain damaged.

Well  he completely lost the plot then suggesting  I go back on statins and blood pressure tablets. I quickly put him right on that one and it was left that I should go back to the Aspirin but, that I did not need to take the medication for the thyroid that my quack had said I would be on for life! Who the hell are you supposed to believe? He also said he would ask a post stroke nurse to call and see me to explain what I could do to reduce the chances of any more attacks. I informed him that if it involved eating rice cakes and drinking skimmed milk he could forget it.

So I did feel that I had been given more information than previously and that it did, overall, make more sense. However, I now have to let the DVLA know I have a small loss of sight and find out if I am fit to drive. I did point out that I had originally been told to wait one month before driving but, of course that was before a supermarket had proved my sight had been affected. Letter is on it’s way to DVLA and meanwhile I will restrict my driving to Friday nights.