Madam,

Mr R N Phillips (‘Disgraceful situation at eye clinic not being addressed') would do well to pause for a moment to consider just how very many of us are “awaiting eye appointments” at Aberystwyth’s North Road clinic or the associated clinic at Bronglais DSU before firing off criticisms of the services provided there.

He seems to think he is entitled to preferential treatment because of his previous employments!

Having had many appointments myself over the last three or four years at these locations, I have found every single one of the staff there to have been excellent in every respect – efficient, courteous, caring and considerate – and many patients are well past 70 years old and some have other disabilities too.

The staff all work incredibly hard and always remain cheerful as they deal with thousands of patients needing treatment for age-related eye conditions, and living over a very wide area.

I’ve been amazed more than once when chatting with others waiting for an injection round to start, just how far away from Aberystwyth some of them live.

At a recent eye test, the head optician at Specsavers told me to ask them at my next scan how much longer it would be before they dealt with my cataracts. I did this, though I’m sure they already know that these have got a lot worse over the last year or so, and recently I had an appointment in the post for next month.

This will surely be an examination only and, as to when the surgery needed can be scheduled, who knows how far down the line it will be? I’m not expecting to queue-jump though.

Meanwhile we need to be very appreciative of the excellent work they are doing with the resources available.

In an ideal world there would be half a dozen North Roads, all suitably staffed and equipped, spread elsewhere in the region – in Welshpool, Newtown, Lampeter or Cardigan, for example – to relieve the sheer number pressure.

This cannot be conjured up overnight though – so get real Mr Phillips.

Yours etc,

Joyce Porter, Talybont.

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