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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask anyone in the NHS how day surgery lists are determined?

516 replies

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 14:43

As above

OP posts:
ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:12

Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 21:08

Maybe they’ve decided if your low risk and it’s a day case procedure it’s not necessary. Don’t worry. They’ll soon tell you tomorrow if it’s an issue!

If just feels quite unfair that it could end up cancelled because of something I didn’t even do wrong

OP posts:
Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 21:08

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:00

Okay I’ve just googled and apparently because it’s a short, simple procedure a lot of trusts are increasingly doing them over the phone if you don’t have a complex medical history?

Maybe they’ve decided if your low risk and it’s a day case procedure it’s not necessary. Don’t worry. They’ll soon tell you tomorrow if it’s an issue!

FurForksSake · 30/07/2025 21:08

because the information online is not specific to you. Different hospitals, departments, surgeons, procedures have different protocols. You’ve been given yours in your letter.

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:07

@Greybeardy- why is so much of the advice online to not wear deodorant or body lotion? My letter doesn’t mention it explicitly but a lot of the stuff online says not to (and is it a problem that I put it on after my shower?)

OP posts:
RuthW · 30/07/2025 21:06

I went first as they thought I had a latex allergy.

Clairey1986 · 30/07/2025 21:04

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:02

My phone call was half an hour, it was quite in depth - asking about medications, previous history etc. im guessing because im pretty boring i didn’t need a face to face,

Don’t worry - I had surgery from our local NHS trust and no bloods or swabs, but did have them when I had private surgery. So nothing will be wrong, just your trust has deemed low risk so doesn’t want bloods and swabs.

Greybeardy · 30/07/2025 21:04

SpringSpruce · 30/07/2025 20:59

I didn't realise latex could be airbourne. I'm surprised that hasn't pushed them to remove it from use at all.

Latex-free gloves are horrible to work in (sort of sticky and slippery at the same time) and in specialties that depend very much on ‘feel’ it can make things trickier so a lot of people only wear them when they really have to. Latex probably will disappear one day but they need to come up with something better first.

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:02

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 21:01

I’m assuming then they will do consent tomorrow on the day with you and run through things!

My phone call was half an hour, it was quite in depth - asking about medications, previous history etc. im guessing because im pretty boring i didn’t need a face to face,

OP posts:
MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 21:02

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:00

Okay I’ve just googled and apparently because it’s a short, simple procedure a lot of trusts are increasingly doing them over the phone if you don’t have a complex medical history?

Our trust do phone apts and then come in for bloods and swabs and the wash that you do for 5 days prior. For some smaller surgeries they don’t always do it (under LA, excisions etc).
trusts work in different ways though.

Kirbert2 · 30/07/2025 21:02

FurForksSake · 30/07/2025 20:42

Oh and don’t expect to see your surgeon after the operation, you’ll wake up in recovery, be taken back to the ward, looked after by the dsu nursing staff and discharged by them. People are often surprised by that.

We always saw my son's surgeons after his surgeries. To be fair, his early surgeries were all unplanned, his first ever surgery was an emergency one but even with his last surgery which was planned and relatively routine (It did unexpectedly take 5 hours instead of the planned 2 hours, my son can't do anything the easy way apparently!) we saw his surgeon afterwards.

Unless that's just a paeds surgery thing?

SpringSpruce · 30/07/2025 21:01

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:59

Yes - it’s tomorrow. I wasn’t told about a pre-op appointment other than over the phone (which I did before I got the date, they said it was good for a year)

Do you have a book or series you are very interested in?
If not could you look for one tonight?
If you are autistic your best bet is probably trying to absolutely absorb yourself into something for the day and zone out the time passing. Otherwise you'll sit there clock watching and getting more and more stressed like currently.

Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 21:01

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:54

Also, do I need to do the pregnancy test? Unless I’m carrying the next baby Jesus I will not be pregnant and I’ve never done one before, so I don’t know how to!

They’ll probably make you do one on the day anyway (pee in a pot for them to test). I will say don’t argue with them about the need for it and just go with it if they do ask you to do this, like you there was zero chance of pregnancy for me either for my recent surgery. But sometimes people will say that when it’s absolutely not the case (I don’t know why, people are weird!), and understandably the surgeon will not want to take the medicolegal risks of operating on a pregnant women without full consideration and knowledge, and fair enough if you put yourself in their shoes!

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 21:01

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:59

Yes - it’s tomorrow. I wasn’t told about a pre-op appointment other than over the phone (which I did before I got the date, they said it was good for a year)

I’m assuming then they will do consent tomorrow on the day with you and run through things!

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 21:00

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:59

Yes - it’s tomorrow. I wasn’t told about a pre-op appointment other than over the phone (which I did before I got the date, they said it was good for a year)

Okay I’ve just googled and apparently because it’s a short, simple procedure a lot of trusts are increasingly doing them over the phone if you don’t have a complex medical history?

OP posts:
Roosch · 30/07/2025 21:00

Just relax, you’re not the first person to go to day surgery. You’ll be fine. Stop being dramatic. It won’t hurt you to fast for 2-12 hours.

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:59

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 20:58

I’d ring the secretary - usually the phone is for ASA status but they usually need to do bloods and swabs.
have you got a date for surgery.

Yes - it’s tomorrow. I wasn’t told about a pre-op appointment other than over the phone (which I did before I got the date, they said it was good for a year)

OP posts:
SpringSpruce · 30/07/2025 20:59

Greybeardy · 30/07/2025 20:55

Latex ‘spores’ take time to clear from the air even with high air turnover in theatre. Some people with severe allergies could react to those particles in the air.

I didn't realise latex could be airbourne. I'm surprised that hasn't pushed them to remove it from use at all.

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 20:58

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:57

It was by phone

I’d ring the secretary - usually the phone is for ASA status but they usually need to do bloods and swabs.
have you got a date for surgery.

MrsKateColumbo · 30/07/2025 20:57

I was just saying what my local hospital does. They do a groin swab when you first check in and ask you to do a pregnancy test (but maybe NHS dont do this?). I always find the pregnancy test tricky as I obviously haven't weed for ages! They ask for all girls/women age 12-50 to do it but maybe this is just the two I use. All you do is wee in a cup

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:57

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 20:56

Have you had your pre op?

It was by phone

OP posts:
ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:57

Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 20:57

You maybe had them taken at your pre-op appointment?

My pre-op was over the phone

OP posts:
ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:57

Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 20:55

The pre-op people are usually nursing staff just going through a list to rule out issues that might cause a problem in surgery etc; they usually won’t know the details of any surgical procedure themselves, but ideally you should have had at least one consultation with ENT before being listed for sinus surgery where they could have gone through the details.

But I’m very aware that often these days it’s something that can get brought up at the end of a consultation eg we could book you in for surgery on your sinuses which might help if you’d like us to do that? And if you say yes you might assume that at some point someone will explain a bit more about the details of it to you and I do think prepandemic if you were waiting 2 years for it that would have happened, but I agree that doesn’t always happen these days ahead of time. I was listed for gallbladder surgery after being admitted for a gallstone complication, so never actually got to speak to a surgeon at all until the day of the procedure. Fortunately with my medical background I basically knew what to expect!

You will get a basic explanation of the procedure tomorrow from the surgeon who will come and see you beforehand to consent you for the operation and make sure you’re happy to go ahead. But I appreciate many people would prefer to have that info ahead of time!

Yes this is exactly what happened. Sat down, said my CT showed thickening, asked if I wanted surgery then started chatting to me about my weight loss (my records he had stated my weight from when I was referred, 2 years ago). That was it, he didn’t explain if they’d be doing anything else etc.

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 30/07/2025 20:57

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:54

Also, do I need to do the pregnancy test? Unless I’m carrying the next baby Jesus I will not be pregnant and I’ve never done one before, so I don’t know how to!

They will ask you about pregnancy. You can sign a declaration saying it isn’t possible if it isn’t, or pee in a pot and they’ll test it.

Britneyfan · 30/07/2025 20:57

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:54

I’ve not been asked to do MRSA swabs?

You maybe had them taken at your pre-op appointment?

MoralHighGroundGrandWizard · 30/07/2025 20:56

ScuderiaSedici · 30/07/2025 20:54

I’ve not been asked to do MRSA swabs?

Have you had your pre op?