Service restored
This story should just be one of delight. The diabetic retinopathy screening clinic has been restored to Shotley Bridge Hospital.
What’s moderating my delight, though, is how this came to my attention.
Several months ago I was approached by the family of a frail elderly constituent. They just wanted to know why she couldn’t have her retinopathy screening done at Shotley but instead had to be transported to Durham. She didn’t like going out for any length of time, and as we all know the transport to Durham isn’t great if you don’t drive. I promised to find out.
After some toing and froing it transpired that there hadn’t been enough cameras, but now the PCT had bought some more and sited one at Shotley Bridge so the clinic was restored. I wrote to the family to let them know that whilst their mother’s previous discomfiture could not be undone, at least in future she would know that the screening could be done at Shotley Bridge again. The family thanked me for my efforts, but were sad to say that their mother had recently died.
It’s a sharp reminder that it isn’t enough to promise to do better in the future. We need to do better NOW.
have your say
