Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC)

I have been on the waiting list for squint surgery for nearly a year and have had two consultants leave so haven't even met the person who will be performing my surgery. This has upset me considerably.

regularly attend Eye Clinic thought this service was wonderful, even in a busy environment staff still find that extra care and time to be attentive, comes naturally for these people delivering a great service. Well done everyone, it's the hospital visit I enjoy!!

Within four hours of emergency admission post injury at work,my husband had been seen by staff nurse,doctor,consultant,CT scan,admitted onto a ward and taken down to theatre for surgery.All staff were reassuring,efficient and caring although the department was extremely busy.

My son G who has autism and severe learning disabilities started losing his sight as cataracts were left untreated for some time over two years ago as no one checked his eyes. Then when retinal detachment happened it became obvious to all that he could not see. We thought there was no hope as some people thought G could not cope with the complex surgery and aftercare.
We needed hospital staff to not give up on him.
The surgeons did not give up, and said that he was too young with his whole life ahead of him and felt they had to try and at least give him a chance.
He had had very good sight all of his life, and loved reading and sightseeing, and just being able to see.
Then, against all the odds, the surgical team led by Mr Arijit Mitra restored his sight in one eye as the other was permanently blind - and we had two years of care that I can't put into words. G was functioning quite well and learning new skills all by himself, as he still had some central vision and peripheral vision.
G surprised people as he had a rapport with Mr Mitra that was brilliant, and I think that he sensed that he was respected and being helped.
I know that G cannot thank the hospital himself and if he could I know what he would say, so I speak for him as his mother.
After a fourth operation however, he has now almost totally lost all sight, which is still being monitored.
Whatever happens now, G and ourselves are grateful to this superb hospital that we have been so lucky to have surgeons who talk to us whenever we need help. Nothing is too much trouble for them.

Individuals with autism need good practice 'reasonable adjustments' so they can be treated with special consideration for their very high anxiety and in any other way, and we were accommodated more than I ever thought possible.

Mr Mitra, his fellow surgeons and anaesthetists, the co-ordinator and the nurses on the ground floor and in the ophthalmology ward have been amazing.
I think BMEC are a good practice model for those with special needs and should be listed in a group of specialist hospitals that are outstanding in the UK.

Nurses and doctors do all they can and what they can. Excellent service

Getting an appontment with a clinican (one off or regular) is very difficult even for doctors from other clinics. Can't get access to department and got "passed on" / answering machine. If you are not in the system without help/referral from within a clinic, it is almost impossible. Though staff were very helpful and supportive.

Fantastic service by the BMEC ! From start to finish they staff are friendly , helpful and professional, going above and beyond to ensure good customer service. Mr Sung and his team are a credit to this facility and there should be so many more like them.

I arrived in A&E and was seen very promptly. I was ushered through and seen by a very friendly triage nurse and then quickly seen by a doctor who was extremely patient. It turned out that i had a torn retina and i could not have asked for a better team. The doctor called for a second opinion and then reassured me and explained how the laser surgery that i would receive would be carried out. The only downside is that after the procedure i was not told what to do. feeling extremely fragile and sorry for myself i was not told that i would have blurred vision for the next few days and if this was normal or not. In fact i am still not sure if what i am experiencing should be expected. Overall, the treatment was a positive experience and would recommend it to my friends and family if ever they needed it.