DH,

Thanks for the update. I'll give it a go. :ok:

AA

After making many calls to Birmingham at the start of the year & been given the run around I gave up, went to the local opticians & had an eye test to confirm prescription (on RMC contract) & paid for a contact lens check (£32, reclaimed through JPA). I now get lenses from them, the cost is about 30% more than when they used to come from Cranwell but I might explore cheaper outlets on the internet if nothing materialises re Birmingham.

I still have not received an appointment & I'm starting to question whether I need to take the time off to trek up there - perhaps having destroyed a first rate facility at OASC we should now all use local opticians, good for the economy & reduced carbon emissions driving to Brum? The RAF loses control of this aspect of our health care, but if they didn't care enough to keep Cranwell open......?

Chetna - I hope you have found a good new job, I'm sure you will have as you were (are) a first rate optician!

I have managed to get my prescription details and ordered some contacts online. However, because the old OASC department used to get the latest products at cost price, I have had to pay about 1/3 more online for the same product, and with considerably more time and effort. I have tried going back to older products but the decrease in comfort and effectiveness is noticeable.

For those reading this who see just aircrew winging about having to pay more for stuff please note:I hope that when Birmingham is up and running that the ability to trial new products, rapidly order supplies, deliver them where evey you are in the world, at cost price to the user, is available. Good eye care = better flight safety; but also pilots with better vision in later life and that = long-term financial savings. :ok:

Albert - nice to see a parochial aircrew of optical health and support there. I'm sure our men and women in any other Trade or Branch would not be able to claim the same benefits you have highlighted for your own.

Or would we not gain from better safety (not just flight safety) and better eye health overall? Nobody else suffers the trauma of deployments like you do. Someone pass me the specially modified blinkered violin - I feel a maudlin tune coming on. :rolleyes:

Mr C you have a bite: :ok:

It may have slipped your mind but airforce = aircraft and eyes are sort of useful when trying to hit tgts on the ground or avoiding them in the air.

As an aside CAP 774: The avoidance of other traffic is ultimately the pilot’s responsibility - good eye health tends to help with that.

Contrary to common belief, even for some people in the med centre, contacts were not free, we paid for them. Every branch has their wish list of things they would like to have maintained or acquired for them, and I applauded anyone who fights for their corner to be defended. There are those who try to affect change and those who just get jealous of others and snipe behind closed doors. Too-shay.

Is it beyond your comprehension that airforce = a lot of people who never enter the cockpit? Eyes are sort of useful for everyone doing everything and not just useful when trying to hit tgts on the ground or avoiding them in the air :rolleyes: Fixing aircraft needs eyesight etc etc.

There are approx 2080 pilots in the RAF - about 5% of the total manpower. The other 95% all carry out essential duties that help in putting the weapon platform where it needs to be, when it needs to be there, with the correct load for the task required. The aircrew are there for the last 5% of that task.

Keep yourself in context. Those who fail to do so end up looking like the current batch of MPs when they tell us that we won't understand and we are just jealous.

Mr C,

I refuse to get into a slagging match here and I take great offence that you think I am oblivious of the rest of the team. As my last paragraph states we ALL have our areas of concern be that trivial, minor or major.

This fish has just dropped off your hook....hee....heee

Mr C

I'm with you - high quality eye care, and the availability of contact lenses, should not be restricted to aircrew. All sorts of people are expected to be able to fire rounds down the biggest range in the world, often with little notice! Whilst this covers units such as Tiswas, RAFP, RAF Regt etc (who may already be entitled) everyone still carries a personal weapon (perhaps not the padre!). Last thing you need when ambushed is to knock your glasses off. And if you're wearing contacts you too can look good in the latest BX Oakleys!:E

BTW - I'm aircrew who wears MOD 'issued' glasses for flying (and has to rely on a dark visor for sun protection!). Can't hit a barn door on the range with a pistol as I always forget to take the bins with me. Really ought to move onto contacts but that whole finger close to the eyeball thing ....:yuk:

Ken Scott,

Many thanks for the kind words! I am keeping busy, out of trouble and enjoying a new challenge.

It sounds like many contact lens wearing aircrew are currently having to source local care and be reimbursed by their RMC. I hope a new optometry service is available to you all soon. I know Birmingham have been advertising for a new optometrist, so your wait may soon be over.

Kindest regards

Chetna

Thank you
 

Dear Chetna,

On behalf of all RAF aircrew who you so diligently looked after, I just wanted to say thank you for working so tirelessly to provide an awesome service even though you had to singlehandedly shut down the clinic and treat patients at the same time. Your dedication and commitment to your patients was noteworthy, and I wish you all the happiness in your future employment. You will be missed by many.:D

warmest thanks

DH

Sellyoak optometry department cancelled
 

I just called Sellyoak and they now say that plans to provide a service for those that previously used the Dept of Optometry at Cranwell have been cancelled due to lack of funds. We are adviced to "contact our local healthcare provider..." :ugh:

I’m sure there is a back-up plan to preserve some patient duty of care and to make available our extensive detailed eye examination records!?! :oh:

Has anyone had an update on where our eye history documents now preside?

Is Birmingham officially dead?

Document location
 

Albert

I've been told that our docs are still located at Cranwell in the med ctr. We had an entry in SROs last week stating that you can get your prescription faxed if a med ctr to med ctr request is made.

However, I'm still waiting for my FOI request for all of my notes from Feb!

At present, Birmingham will only deal with initial referrals and any problem cases should they arise. This is still pending clarification/auth of any locally endorsed arrangements on a perm basis.

Hope it helps

SA

SA,

Thanks for the update. I'll chase Cranwell up next week.

Albert

:ok:

I had an optometry appointment at Selly Oak about 2 months ago. The appointment was booked through the RMC at ISK and involved a 20 minute appointment with a civilian optician in the eye department, followed by a 15 minute appointment with an Army doctor.

I still have to buy my contact lenses at the local opticians in Elgin! I don't have a problem buying the lenses, just the two days travelling to and from Birmingham from Kinloss to use the same lenses that a local optician prescribed for non flying duties months ago.:ugh:

Alternative supplier
 

Chaps,

Having also lost the services of the lovely Chetna and Penny, I now source identical lenses through these guys, all done on line and with minimal fuss. They were the cheapest I could find but have given a good service to date (happily, my prescription is stable, but I have to use a local optician now like most others for check-ups):

LensWay - Contact Lenses

Easy to use drop-downs that lead you to the lenses you use.

Hope it's of use.

HH