OASC Optometry Department Closed
Join Date: Sep 2006
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"Now can anyone remember what the "private arrangements" accommodation allowance is at the moment
? "
Unfortunately pba..........its (PAHA) just been withdrawn (see latest JPA bulletin), its now CHBS hotel booking or no money!! Sorry
Suppose you always treat your other half to night out, but don't spend your £24.52 all at once.
As for the contact lenses.....i wear lenses and pay for them, the RAF covers an eyesight test once a year (which if you go to Boots is also a full MOT) or I can wear Defence specs (i'm not aircrew)........if the Service's requirement is to source from Cranwell/Selly Oak then so be it
However, it just seems to be jointery gone mad since other than an Army centric hosiptal unit in Birmingham, what other units, let alone flying units, are there in the West Mids. The move will be a boon to the old duffers on UBAS though!
? "Unfortunately pba..........its (PAHA) just been withdrawn (see latest JPA bulletin), its now CHBS hotel booking or no money!! SorrySuppose you always treat your other half to night out, but don't spend your £24.52 all at once.
As for the contact lenses.....i wear lenses and pay for them, the RAF covers an eyesight test once a year (which if you go to Boots is also a full MOT) or I can wear Defence specs (i'm not aircrew)........if the Service's requirement is to source from Cranwell/Selly Oak then so be it
However, it just seems to be jointery gone mad since other than an Army centric hosiptal unit in Birmingham, what other units, let alone flying units, are there in the West Mids. The move will be a boon to the old duffers on UBAS though!
Last edited by Once A Brat; 18th Dec 2008 at 10:33. Reason: Can't spoll
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1.5 - 2 days out of the office, with an overnighter... for a 180 mile round trip?
FFS, thats taking the pi$$ whether you are driving yourself or employing a driver.
On the one hand, current serving members of the forces complain (quite rightly) about MOD overspend and poor budgeting, allied with lack of good equipment... then at the same time they can justify to themselves the above...
Am I alone in seeing the irony?
FFS, thats taking the pi$$ whether you are driving yourself or employing a driver.
On the one hand, current serving members of the forces complain (quite rightly) about MOD overspend and poor budgeting, allied with lack of good equipment... then at the same time they can justify to themselves the above...
Am I alone in seeing the irony?
Red On, Green On
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How much rocket science is there in testing for and prescribing contact lenses?
Rather than sending everyone to Selly Oak, why not contract out the process to local opticians who are suitably qualified? Saves staffing a dept in Selly Oak, saves time for the users, win-win.
Or is that too easy?
Rather than sending everyone to Selly Oak, why not contract out the process to local opticians who are suitably qualified? Saves staffing a dept in Selly Oak, saves time for the users, win-win.
Or is that too easy?
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Re the overnighter. Ladies and Gents the comment was made in all honesty as I have experienced the same sort of med trip.
From exactly the same base as SA, as MT shift change was 0600 and there was no MT overtime available an early morning departure was not available to meat a rush hour 0900 appointment. It was therefore a depart previous day, overnight at a local hotel and be picked up after the appointment by another MT Driver. All because the appointment meant that I was to given eye drops and would therefore be unable to drive legally RAF MT.
Another part of the arguement for the double MT driver usage was that the appoinment was scheduled for a number of hours and that even though the Driver would be resting he/she would have gone over their "duty day" when the out/in journey and waiting hours were all taken into account.
The OASC clinic was very well run and people were very helpful to everyone I know used it.
To me it is not a matter of insulting various people but another small part of the reduction in the RAF as a whole. So instead of complaining about or insulting people it should be seen for waht it is a poster letting people know that another part of the RAF has gone and will not be replaced with a user friendly/local servise.
From exactly the same base as SA, as MT shift change was 0600 and there was no MT overtime available an early morning departure was not available to meat a rush hour 0900 appointment. It was therefore a depart previous day, overnight at a local hotel and be picked up after the appointment by another MT Driver. All because the appointment meant that I was to given eye drops and would therefore be unable to drive legally RAF MT.
Another part of the arguement for the double MT driver usage was that the appoinment was scheduled for a number of hours and that even though the Driver would be resting he/she would have gone over their "duty day" when the out/in journey and waiting hours were all taken into account.
The OASC clinic was very well run and people were very helpful to everyone I know used it.
To me it is not a matter of insulting various people but another small part of the reduction in the RAF as a whole. So instead of complaining about or insulting people it should be seen for waht it is a poster letting people know that another part of the RAF has gone and will not be replaced with a user friendly/local servise.
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SA
I did'nt know that the C'well Dept had closed so thanks for the post. Don't think it deserved some of the venomous responses from the anti-aircrew brigade!
P.S. Hope you can read this ok!
I did'nt know that the C'well Dept had closed so thanks for the post. Don't think it deserved some of the venomous responses from the anti-aircrew brigade!
P.S. Hope you can read this ok!
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Larger font version for those with poor eyesight.
SA
I did'nt know that the C'well Dept had closed so thanks for the post. Don't think it deserved some of the venomous responses from the anti-aircrew brigade!
P.S. Hope you can read this ok!
SA
I did'nt know that the C'well Dept had closed so thanks for the post. Don't think it deserved some of the venomous responses from the anti-aircrew brigade!
P.S. Hope you can read this ok!
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The impact....
The reality is that the Cranwell optometry has provided an excellent service for aircrew over the past years - thank you Penny & Chetna, as you spoiled us. The team were thorough, professional and entirely concerned about the welfare of aircrew eyesight.
The future: some NHS eye doc (who changes every 4 weeks) who is paid per patient and has no idea how to spell flying, let alone know how his/her decision will impact on our careers/flying acuity.
Thanks to the RAF medical branch for failing to inform aircrew about this rubbish decision and the detail about the new arrangements (if only I knew what they were) - communication is a skill sorely missing here.
In sum, thanks to the CWL team - you will be missed.
DH
The future: some NHS eye doc (who changes every 4 weeks) who is paid per patient and has no idea how to spell flying, let alone know how his/her decision will impact on our careers/flying acuity.
Thanks to the RAF medical branch for failing to inform aircrew about this rubbish decision and the detail about the new arrangements (if only I knew what they were) - communication is a skill sorely missing here.
In sum, thanks to the CWL team - you will be missed.
DH
Red On, Green On
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The optometry depart at Birmingham will be NHS run.
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I'd just like to second Delta Hotel in recording my thanks to Penny and Chetna, plus Jo and various other assistants over the years, for the excellent service they have provided. I am sorry it has come to an end.
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Having attempted the Specsavers route in Lincoln - to be told the prescription given was utterly useless and plain wrong I'd like to echo the words of DH.
Shoulda gone to Cranwell.
Another case of fixing what ain't broken.
Shoulda gone to Cranwell.
Another case of fixing what ain't broken.
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So, just to clarify a few things admidst the ****e which is thrown around on this site.......
Can I still expect my 3 monthly supply of lenses in the next few days (the last batch were in Sep)? I never had to phone to order them, they were on a rolling 3 month delivery. If not, why not, and when can I expect to be informed of the changes rather than read them on here?
Sid. (looking forward to wearing specs again........not)
Can I still expect my 3 monthly supply of lenses in the next few days (the last batch were in Sep)? I never had to phone to order them, they were on a rolling 3 month delivery. If not, why not, and when can I expect to be informed of the changes rather than read them on here?
Sid. (looking forward to wearing specs again........not)
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DH,
The aircrew contact lens service is now run by the RAF consultant advisor in Ophthalmology who is based in the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Birmingham. From what I understand, this will not entail NHS doctors but our own specialists. I have been led to believe that the CA intends to run out-clinics at a number of RAF Stations on a monthly basis which will, hopefully, make the overall service better, not worse. Yes, it is less convenient for those of us who could just pop across to Cranwell but an earlier thread touched on one issue that was lacking in the OASC-run aircrew lens service - that of the lack of clinical governance. I suggest that we give the CA a chance and see what he comes up with. It could be that the new system will enable a speedy response any eye issues found during the periodic examination.
The aircrew contact lens service is now run by the RAF consultant advisor in Ophthalmology who is based in the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Birmingham. From what I understand, this will not entail NHS doctors but our own specialists. I have been led to believe that the CA intends to run out-clinics at a number of RAF Stations on a monthly basis which will, hopefully, make the overall service better, not worse. Yes, it is less convenient for those of us who could just pop across to Cranwell but an earlier thread touched on one issue that was lacking in the OASC-run aircrew lens service - that of the lack of clinical governance. I suggest that we give the CA a chance and see what he comes up with. It could be that the new system will enable a speedy response any eye issues found during the periodic examination.
A small grenade from the cheap seats:
With the potential upgrade in SLAPS and the upcoming APED project, it is highly likely that CFS will be replaced by CLs in total; this will affect all military aviators who require specs.
With the potential upgrade in SLAPS and the upcoming APED project, it is highly likely that CFS will be replaced by CLs in total; this will affect all military aviators who require specs.
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CHineHat -
have you done much flying in Aircrew flying helmet, at lowish level, peering at a map with your head hangin' outside the downwash 2 to 3 hour sortie? Ear cups clamped tightly into the arms of your specs, digging into your head and behind your ears? Wind trying to pull your specs off? No? Mmm thought not - as you might imagine it is not comfortable and some decide it is much easier to do the job of going and picking up some poor mangled squaddie without the added discomfort! I don't think asking for contact lenses is too much to ask do you? After all if we are getting better, more comfortable body armour and better more comfortable armoured vehicles then why not have better more comfortable equipment for being able to friggin well see? Sounds like you are having an anti aircrew whinge and nothing else. Grow up.
have you done much flying in Aircrew flying helmet, at lowish level, peering at a map with your head hangin' outside the downwash 2 to 3 hour sortie? Ear cups clamped tightly into the arms of your specs, digging into your head and behind your ears? Wind trying to pull your specs off? No? Mmm thought not - as you might imagine it is not comfortable and some decide it is much easier to do the job of going and picking up some poor mangled squaddie without the added discomfort! I don't think asking for contact lenses is too much to ask do you? After all if we are getting better, more comfortable body armour and better more comfortable armoured vehicles then why not have better more comfortable equipment for being able to friggin well see? Sounds like you are having an anti aircrew whinge and nothing else. Grow up.
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Ok....
So with about 6 days of contact lens use left before i have to report into work and explain why i am unfit to fly, can somebody give me the names/numbers required to sort this cake and @rse party out..
Thanks
icc
So with about 6 days of contact lens use left before i have to report into work and explain why i am unfit to fly, can somebody give me the names/numbers required to sort this cake and @rse party out..
Thanks
icc