Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC)

Visited urgent care centre this morning for appointment at 09.00 and seen by nurse within 5 minutes of arrival and then by /nurse within another 5 minutes.
sorted out my problem and gave me advise for the future.Many thanks to all for a friendly and efficient service.

My husband has repeated cysts on his eye lid. Currently there is a sty and a cyst, 6 weeks after the last surgery to remove it. The triage nurse said this was not a matter for eye casualty before even looking at the problem. My husband is diabetic with sight threatening retinopathy and was experiencing pain from the size of the cyst pressing on his eye. He had followed all of the advice to relieve the cyst but it hadn't worked. If the nurse had looked at the eye before dismissing us, had listened to the background of sight-threatening problems, we wouldn't have felt so unhappy. The nurse told us to go to the pharmacy for some over the counter medication. However, the pharmacist told us that there was nothing she could give us which would improve it at all and that we should go back to eye casualty.
Our past experience of doctors at the eye centre has been very good. There is no excuse for neglecting the basics. Compassion, competence and care.

I've recently had cataract surgery and have been impressed by the professional, yet friendly way I was dealt with by everyone on the team.

As I was with my wife from the start, I was neither informed she was back from Surgery or told how she was post surgery.

A very professional efficient and friendly service from the moment we entered the eye clinic. Excellent organisation in what I know is a very busy unit.

I had a corneal graft at BMEC. I could not have asked for better care. I had plenty of information and time to make the decision to have the graft. The ward staff were fantastic and the theatre staff put me at my ease. Everyone I met introduced themselves and I felt well cared for. My vision is now much improved. Thank you to everyone involved.

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.