CHEC Reviews 118

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.

Last visit I gave 1 star and did not write a review as it would not have made for good reading!
Today was a totally different story, same clinic BUT different staff on reception and a different Dr and honestly the service was amazing, so thank you!

Made appointment but was sent a text to make an appointment even though one was already made.
Lady on phone said it was for Laser Surgery. I was very stressed about this so daughter spent day with me to help calm my nerves.
We get to the CHEC Office (Blackpool) and am told there is no one to put in drops.
The consultant then goes on to tell me what I already know about my eyesight and when I ask him an actual question he says he doesn't know.
The same response I received when I last went.
I had spent the day preparing for an interview that took less than 5 mins.
I tell the receptionist that I was told this appointment was for Laser surgery. The receptionist then tells me that there has to be a consultation before surgery and that I have been misinformed.
I was stressed, upset and my Daughter had also wasted a day for something I could have attended on my own.
Communication is chaotic but unfortunately I can't afford to go private otherwise I would be able to look at other options.

After an eye trst I was referred for laser treatment. Got an appointment very quickly. Unfortunately communication was not great sending out duplicate requests to book an appointment when I had already booked one. I rang asking about the eye drops I had received via the post which I was to administer myself prior to the treatment. I waited 15 minutes before actually speaking to someone. I was told someone at the clinic could do it for me but must arrive 20 minutes before the appointment time. I found this very strange because whenever I previously needed eye drops to dilate the pupils whether at the opticians or hospital they were put in by medical person. This request for DIY system left me uneasy. I felt the whole experience was very impersonal and like a conveyor belt system. More attention to individual patients is needed.

I came to the treatment center today on my scheduled appointment date. I only to be informed by the nurse that due to my blood condition, the surgery could not proceed.

During the earlier pre-assessment, I had already mentioned I have a blood-clotting disorder. At first, the nurse replied “it doesn’t matter,” but after I emphasized it may bleeding during surgery, if it really not a problem? She then asked me for the name of the condition and said she would email the doctor. However, when I arrived today, I was told that this was the first time they had seen my medical history, and the surgery must be performed at a hospital instead. As a result, today’s surgery was cancelled.

I am not sure why the staff only reviewed my medical history when I arrived. What is the purpose of the pre-assessment if such important information is not properly noted or acted upon??

The most chaotically run organisation I've had to deal with. My optician said she'd refer me for some examinations as she was concerned about possible cataracts forming. I must have had at least 5 emails from them and 6 or so letters about referrals. I made an appointment for a check up with them. I then received more emails and even 2 phone calls about making an appointment!! I went to the appointment where they did a couple of tests, The clinician said I'd get a phone call in about 2 days to discuss the results. I have received nothing but I'm still getting emails about referrals and even another letter this week about making an appointment. I give up!!

I have nothing but praise for the staff and service provided by CHEC Warrington.
When I was referred to CHEC by my optician I looked at the reviews here … and to be honest they weren’t great. How the comments seemed to be more complaints about admin than anything else. I had a cancelled appointment myself but found them to go out of their way to correct this.
They deliver generally a very fast and friendly service and cover all aspects of their treatment with you.
I am very thankful for the level of advise and healthcare delivered for my cataract surgery to both my eyes.
Five Stars from myself 🙏😊👍