I fought the system, but would others in need be able to do the same

11:19am Wednesday 16th July 2008

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I REFER to the article Go to the back of the queue' (Echo, June 25) about patients who miss hospital appointments facing a trip back to their GP and an 18-week wait/ delay in getting treatment.

I can understand the need for hospitals to get tough on patients who miss their appointments, especially with the non-stop call on the National Health system.

However, this change in policy by Dorset County Hospital should surely be backed up by clinical decisions and referrals to the appointments clerk not purely by administration, as in my case.

I have been attending one of the eye clinics since my cataract operation at the begining of this year.

The last appointment I had at the clinic was at the end of April, when I was given another month's treatment and an appointment was made for me for five weeks hence, this to coincide with the completion of my medication and the return of my consultant from holiday.

Before leaving the hospital I informed everyone that I would be on holiday myself and unavailable until after May 14.

When I returned from holiday less than two weeks later I had the joy of opening a letter from the hospital informing me that in my absence an appointment had been made for me and obviously as I had not attended I was being referred back to my GP.

I checked with the appointments clerk that a note had been made regarding my absence and eventually I was able to make an appointment.

While I can sympathise I do wonder whether this is just a ploy to exaggerate the numbers of new patients?

Perhaps it a funding issue or are the bureaucrats totally in charge and the ethos of the health service has changed under a Labour Government?

As for me, I am now awaiting an appointment (fingers crossed) for laser treatment to correct my eye problems and a letter of apology plus an explanation as to why I was nearly banished from the system by one of those bureaucratic decisions.

I was able to change the system - what happens to those patients with a need for care who cannot fight the bureaucracy?

Heather Robinson, Bridport Road, Dorchester.