CHEC Anmeldelser 104

Had first eye cataract surgery done today. The surgeon was great and reassuring. I was so nervous and the team put me at ease. Would have been a five star review but my 11:30 appointment ended up a 2:30 pm one - lots of waiting. Went in to pre op room get ready to be told to go back into the waiting room as the surgeon needed her lunch! No one wants a hungry surgeon! It is what it is, people gotta eat.

I had a cataract procedure at the Stevenage CHEC for my left eye and after that I would never consider returning to have my
right eye done.
The receptionists were pleasant enough, but on both my visits they were training staff and everything took ages. Be prepared to wait an hour or two after your allocated time for your appointment.
One nurse there who put drops in my eyes was lovely and reassuring but sadly she was the only one I came across.
When taken into a small room prior to the procedure i found the nurse to be unfriendly and she did not tell me what she would be doing. I was then left in there for about 20 minutes while there was constant shouting, from the emergency patient that had come in and from the doctor who did the procedure which was very unsettling.
I found the doctor to be very brusque although he did talk me through the procedure.
When it was done, as I have severe arthritis, I struggled to get up from the couch and to remove the pillow from under my knees at which point a nurse said it looked like I was giving birth! Not appropriate.
The assistant who talked me through home care ignored my questions, at one point I asked her if she could hear me.
I was shaking from head to toe but wasn't even offered a glass of water.
My vision is better in that eye but it was 3 months before it healed properly even though I followed the correct procedure.
Never again!
I'm sorry to have to leave such a scathing review but things won't change if people don't speak out.

I have previously reviewed this clinic as my treatment was appalling. Totally unprofessional from the reception team to the resident Dr and the practice manager. I’m back as they were instructed to refer me to the RVI hospital in July 2025.
They did refer me but then cancelled the referral weeks later without telling me.
I have been patiently waiting for my appointment that was never going to come.
I’ve spoken with the rvi they were extremely helpful and most apologetic although they had no need to apologise.
I firmly believe as my previous review was so critical they did this deliberately.
They have an appalling reputation the staff on reception leave a lot to be desired in cleanliness appearance and manners.
But worst of all the resident Dr was completely unprofessional bordering on being quite personal and very unpleasant.
The manager also brushing over the very large cracks I’m absolutely astonished they are still allowed to practise.
CQC or whoever governs over them need to shut them down before they do any further damage

Admin is not only out of step, it is aggravating and puts the onus on the customer:
1. Text cancelling my appointment.
2. I call but am told that there are no appointments and to call back in 2 weeks.
3. Letter received saying they have “attempted” to contact me etc and will cancel referral in 28 days.
Only at the end does it admit the possibility that I might have already been in touch and to ignore the letter. How irritating is this when I have done my bit but they are unable to cope but won’t admit it?

My mother had both eyes done at CHEC one eye was so badly damaged she has been referred to the Hospital
The pressure in this eye was over 50 which caused her serious pain and discomfort.
She nearly lost her eye because of Chec and nobody at chec would take responsibility.
Shocking all about money.

Well this is hard to describe. I am shocked that they are allowed to trade the way that they do. Seems to be a rushed conveyor belt of patients. With at most locations no receptionist.
I initially saw them as some god awful doctors surgery in my town, no warning about drops to dilate my eyes and absolutely petrified me I think giving my ptsd. I do have poor sight in one eye and I’m very deaf. So no warning what would happen for a 20 something who’s quite scared about their eyes was horrific. But that’s not the worst part, remember it being filthy and for years I refused their appointments.
Roll forward to hmm 2020 I was referred again seen a few times, I remember walking in the guy said so you gave MS… eh? Erm no. Sorry what. That old appointment in 2015 was to check if I had MS but was cleared and discharged.. so I guess he was looking at that..?
Over the last 5 years I’ve gone to Stratford, somewhere other side of Stratford like Welsbourne I think. Droitwich, kings Norton, Redditch and Bromsgrove.
Bromsgrove was in an old ophthalmologist shop had a receptionist but felt very pop up. Random odd chairs, temporary walls. No actual privacy and I didn’t have any scans or dilation, pictures etc. but I was checked with lights it was clean.
King Norton a REAL clinic with a receptionist, solely chec patients multiple rooms and doctors. Felt real., and clean. Unfortunately I just couldn’t grasp the doctors accent but he was friendly.
Droitwich, both in Stratford and a few others, no receptionist just billy no mates you have to try to find where the waiting room area for chec is (a corner of a bigger doctors surgery or hospital.. and you wait for one patient out then you are in. Again no real diagnostics they look in your eye you never see the same person twice..
Now wow droitwich is by far the worst coulda been the same filthy guy as latchkey in redditch all those years ago.. not only did he use the pressure thing without changing the rubbers, but the but you rest your chin in was FILTHY… it was brown/blood looking marks similar to foundation but the last patient was a man with a white beard.. being immune suppressed I was like erm please wipe… pointing at the filth he said he’d just done it sorry sorry.. he hadn’t as it wiped clean.. made me absolutely freak out I wouldn’t allow an examination..
I complained to no avail..
recently I’ve been seen in Redditch a could of times, again no receptionist but there is an office rental and a nurse, you need to buzz yo get in. -4 last week I was stood there 15 minutes and waited until last person came out. Making me 10 minutes late but I was seen.. they took pictures of my eyes and I get a text to book an appointment and guess what.. none available sooo I know the dreaded hour plus phone call is coming.. I decided to see Specsavers as I guess whatever was seen by my picture or the pressure or whatever has triggered an appointment request but they have nothing available…? Potty

Over all redditch is clean and staff good but it’s still big great with admin
Droitwich filthy and you can’t complain
Kings Norton fantastic and very clean but can’t get an appointment.
All other surgeries you’re left like a melon waiting not knowing if you’re in the right place.
Admin is very poor..

If they had receptionists and endured hygiene was 1st in their priorities maybe they would get a better rating.
When I said to my mum I’d been referred there again she said oh yes it’s like 3rd world practitioner.. from an 81 year old take that as you like..

For me if you can be referred to an actual hospital instead I’d take that as your health would feel more cared for.

The staff are all very nice but it just lacks professionalism and handling as I feel medical things should be cared for. This is eyed after all.

I feel chec are getting a lot of money and not using the money paid to work in efficiency..

Trying to book an appointment is extremely difficult. Prepare to lose half a day. When i finally got through to a person, after several attempts and around 4hrs of calling, the person told me there were no appointments for the next couple of months and after that they had no dates released yet....
Completely pointless. I complained and the staff (who are nice) sorted an appointment for next week.
The main issues with CHEC are many:
- Online booking system broken forcing people to use the phone
- Phone waiting times were ALWAYS over an hour - 3hrs if you asked for a callback.
- No appointments available, when you finally break through and speak to someone

The WORST place to have treatment. If you care about your loved ones, do not let them come here.
The communication is terrible, the equipment does not work, the staff don't know the answers to basic questions and they cancel appointments constantly.
Consultants are rude and make you feel like you are gwtting in the way. As an NHS patient being seen in a private clinic, I was still expecting my mum to be treated with some care and respect but clearly if you dont have the money to go private you are not worthy.
When I expressed that the staff the service was terrible, no one asked why or even apologised, just agreed and gave me wrong information about how to get an appointment at a different clinic.
Whilst the surgeon was good, the rest of the chec team are clowns making things up as they go along. Shocking!

A group of GPs who have no idea of what they are dealing with and each one is playing a role of specialist . Toxic place for work as well and they all work with no supervision in many specialities with no actual credited training or experience . If you want to be treated by try and error just Go there !

I have always found them to be friendly and efficient monitoring my eyes for glaucoma. They have the latest scanning cameras, pressure monitoring equipment and field testers. I don't have to wait long and the clinic in Leicester is convenient. I was surprised by all the negative reviews and it has dented my confidence a little.

Totally had enough of CHEC. The people there are generally nice and in-person appointments have been fairly on time, but the administration is shockingly bad. I really don't know where to start with all the errors and wasted time. Each time you have to phone to check something they've done wrong (eg letters sent to make appointments which aren't due, or trying to find out why didn't get phone call for telephone appointment) you end up on hold for ridiculous amounts of time (45 mins plus) or if you select for them to call you back 'without losing your place in the queue', they don't call back.

Definitely going to leave CHEC and get referred somewhere else.

CHEC
Frank
3 reviews
22 minutes ago
New
This place needs to be shut down. Beside the 4 hour plus wait from my scheduled appointment to be operated, I was given the anaesthetic, placed in an unconfortable small room and left completely unattended before being operated an hour afterwards. The operation was very painful (presumably the anaesthetic had worn off) and the surgeon Mostafa Alam was completely unengaging. The staff were uninterested and there was plenty of them chatting and laughing around the reception desk. This clinic has been numerous times investigated by the Care quality commission and Lewisham health watch. One score out of five is too generous for reviewing. At your peril.

I have appointment next week at this place in Westbourne. Following reading these comments and my own wellbeing / health I have cancelled.

You cannot chat online. Estimated 20 minutes Waiting over the phone. Mist consultations are in smelly places and consultants do not have manners … who in the NHS they report to.

Initial op was fine, but lenses need laser treatment. 6 weeks to wait for a 3 minute phone call then we have to go to Accrington. The original op done at Trafford Park. Totally unimpressed with that.

I received a text with link to patient portal . Where I managed to booked appointment for my daughter. Appointment supposed to be today , we got their on time and we were told that appointment was cancelled. When I said we didn’t receive any information regarding the cancellation. The reception said they left a message on my voicemail. Which I didn’t get , for some reason , it could be due to technical issues like carrier service problems, software glitches, or error on my voicemail setting . I received a link to their patient portal, and as far as I know , the purpose of patient portals is to provide patients with secure, online access to their health information and to facilitate communication with their healthcare providers. They enable patients to manage appointments, including cancellations. The mere fact that there was no cancellation mentioned or information on my daughter patient portal, we assumed the appointment was ok . But it seems that the way the reception explained the situation was my fault , that I didn’t get the voicemail. How can they assume that everyone can get their voicemail. I didn’t even receive a text informing me that they cancelled it . I could have called them if they did . It was. Very poor service….i drove all the way from Rugby to their clinic . Absolutely disappointed… how can they assumed that their patients knows that their patient portal doesn’t work same way NHS patient portal. Such a terrible experience!

I have been with CHECabout two years and have always had trouble with appointments Its a very “iffy” system. Also I have never been given a diagnosis of my glaucoma - i believe it to be open glaucoma. They gave a treatment for my left eye only, but now say I should continue with treatment to both eyes Not what was said at last appointment. I have tried 3 times to get clarity on this situation with no success. Also they have no receptionist in the clinic and I have to sit and wait for attention. Are CHEC paid for a receptionist?

I was very impressed by the rapid referrals, friendly, efficient, and caring treatment, and superb transport arrangements.
I would ask, though, that links sent by text should work on all platforms, not just Smartphones.....
Elderly, desktop computer-using patients like me who only have "elderly folks emergency" phones find themselves unable to reply to these
over-specific links, spoiling an otherwise smooth,
trouble-free experience.
Kind regards,
John A. Ramsden.

My first time of dealing with CHEC Watford. Three appointments booked in quick succession. Final appointment was for YAG Laser treatment. Staff were very polite and courteous. Was impressed how they treated older and disabled patients.
Only comment is that their booking system could use an update. Can be a little confusing.

Every time that I've made an appointment as requested, I've turned up to find that they haven't booked me in for all the relevant eye tests/examinations and I've had to arrange a second appointment. Then every time I've had the appointments I've had to chase up for copies of the outcome letters and been hanging on the phone for ages trying to get through. Does not instil confidence or trust in CHEC's abilities to look after their customers properly.