Catch up - originally posted elsewhere on 7 Sept!
Founded in 1899, world renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital has a reputation second to none
But to be clear, I am referring to Moorfields NHS, not Moorfields Private!
I am regularly contacted by people wanting advice when they’re considering eye surgery, and I do my utmost to dissuade then from risking their healthy eyes, explaining that I will NEVER recommend these procedures for any reason other than being the only option to prevent blindness, or for treatment of cataracts.
And sometimes the response is, ‘But Moorfields is OK isn’t it?'
Then I have to explain that Moorfields Private should not be confused with Moorfields NHS, an oft made mistake, not least because the majority of surgeons use NHS email addresses in their private practices.
'As Moorfields Private (MP) is the UK-based private patient division of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (MEH), we only provide services to consultants whose NHS practice is based on MEH.'
'These consultants are employed by MEH in respect of their NHS practice, but with respect to their private practice, they are self-employed practitioners who see and
treat patients under the terms of the MP Practicing Privileges policy.'
www.moorfields-private.co.uk/about-us
Julian Stevens has long been revered as one of Moorfields’ top surgeons, as he's blurbed on his own website, 'Mr Stevens is a highly skilled and specialist surgeon... highly driven to achieve the best possible visual outcomes… regarded as an expert opinion leader… ‘
www.julianstevens.co.uk
Unfortunately, not all of Julian’s patients would agree with these accolades, including Ms L, who I accompanied to her meeting with Declan Flanagan and Maria Dimmock on 8 August to discuss her complaint (posted in General Chat Topic).
Ms L has a number of problems as a result of lasek in 2014, including induced astigmatism and dry eye disease. And nor is she the only one of Julian’s patients who's contacted me over the years complaining about serious dry eyes post op.
I met Julian Stevens for the first time in 2014, when I accompanied another of his patients to a meeting. But Julian was more concerned with impressing me than addressing the patient’s problems. He also arranged for that patient’s GP to refer her to his NHS clinic rather than continue to fund the cost of treating her privately!
These two paragraphs are from Julian's 8 page ‘
LASEK Consent 2013’, the only info Ms L had about MMC pre surgery.
Page 3, para 2: ‘
Mitomycin C 0.02% may be applied to the cornea after the refractive laser treatment. This is a powerful agent that has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of post-operative scarring in the treated region. For this reason it is widely used. This medication is commonly applied for 10-15 seconds but for very large treatments this may be up to 45 seconds. It is then irrigated from the treated region. Though it is a powerful agent to prevent corneal scarring its use is very carefully controlled to avoid potential toxicity and long-term complication. Studies have documented safety with 3 year follow-up but very long term safety is unknown.’
Wow - ‘
long term safety is unknown’!
Page 6 paragraph 2: ’
I understand that LASEK treatment is a modern form of surface excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy and involves removal of a thin layer of tissue from the cornea.. The longest follow up of PRK treatment is 20 years. The very long-term effects of this treatment are not yet definitely known and this particularly applies where Mitomycin-C is used per op to control post op wound healing.'
At no time did Julian Stevens convey any of this info to Ms L in person, and even when she'd read it through, and asked for time to discuss it with him on the day of surgery, she was refused.
And until I told her, Ms L had no idea that MMC is not licensed for use in laser eye surgery.
Ms L was not fully consented!
Btw, a recent Confocal microscopy scan showed that Ms L has been left with damaged nerves as result of the surgery.
For the time being Ms L has asked not to be identified by name, as there is more to her story still to come.
Meanwhile, next week I look forward to meeting with Moorfields CEO, David Probert, and the new Medical Director, Nick Strouthidis, Declan’s successor.
Given the numbers of patients damaged by the private sector, and forced to seek expensive aftercare at Moorfields NHS, I hope to gain their support for My Beautiful Eyes campaign calling for government regulation.