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

Sorry, meant my husband has been taken at 5pm before on this one. Annoying but someone has to go last!

actually that's not necessarily true. For patients with ASD/ADHD/complex suptratentorial conditions we do try to make things as straightforward as possible. Can't do that if they don't know though, so hopefully you'll have mentioned it/will tell them on the day. Most Trusts have embraced the Oliver McGowan training and are more aware of the challenges that neurodivergence pose - doesn't guarantee that you'll get to go first, but if that is practical then they'll probably try and if it's not possible then they'll try and at least let you know what's going on.

OP you don’t say when the operation is, but if you can I’d ring up before and explain how anxious this is making you, they might be able to prioritise you on the list or suggest ways to make it easier on you. If you don’t have a chance to do that before you go in, do it on the morning of when you get there. No one wants their patients to be struggling and if they can see that it’s causing you this much stress they will want to help. It might not seem like it sometimes but I promise that most people in the NHS do care.

Well that’s just selfish! Somebody else could have had your op day then.

So pay if you want a specific time and day given you consider yourself not urgent.

Clearly you don’t value the need sufficiently to respect the surgeons decision.

it used to be the Registrar reviewed the next days patients and submitted the final list late afternoon. But things may have changed.

Its not really until you get a bed you can be given an approximation of theatre time.
There are so many viariables.

What do you actually want though? Are you expecting to be prioritised ahead of those who are diabetic and for whom the fast could be life threatening, or ahead of those who are high risk?

The only part you can have control over is yourself.
Try it.
Re-read the instructions, get the last snack when you can, read whether you can drink some water, make sure you will be there on time and make sure you will be ready for the surgery when your timeslot comes.

It would be a shame if you got cancelled because of some overlooking on your side.

The list construction is something you can't control, because it would mean giving you a lots of information about organisation, medical knowledge and other patients private health information, so it just isn't practical.

Every information from this thread is just an anecdotal evidence and has limited applicability. The list construction works differently in different types of hospitals. You are booked into the morning session, so 6pm is really really unlikely. People suggested you might go last before you added the morning session detail, so don't worry about that too much.

Because some people won't turn up, some people's observations mean they're not well enough for the operation on the day, some operations will be quicker than expected, and having them in from first thing in the morning reduces the chance of idiots going "well I'll just eat a bit and it'll be fine, they won't know".

My son.has he's tonsils removed he's 14 he was last to.go down it was a 4 yr old 13 yr old then my son but we all had to turn up.at 7am.he went down at 11.30 am then was discharged 6pm

Wait until the person driving you there stops of for a mcdonalds breakfast along the way for themselves, I still bring it up its been years 🤣🤣🤣

Of course they will care. Why do you think they won't?

Ty di sound very worried. It’s a good sign if you’re going in so early. When you arrive you can ask for an approx time. Take it one step at a time. I find I’m less hungry in hospital because I’m not moving as much and anxious. Maybe keep updating here tomorrow as a focus.

They won’t do a thing 😂 im a young, healthy woman. They won’t care

Get that thought out of your head now!

They do care, but their patience will be tried if you are rude to them.

He's definitely much better than what he was, thanks.

I was first for my c section and could overhear that the other ladies had more complicated medical history and I was straightforward

If you're paying that much tax then go private like most people with a high income do.

Im doing better thankyou I hope the same for your son xx

Tell them that.

They want to work with you, not against you. They will do their best to accommodate your needs but they can't do that if you don't talk to them.

Surgery is unpredictable, you can't control it and I understand how frightening that is. You will get through it though and after waiting for 2 years, this last bit of waiting will be worth it.

But there are going to be situations - like this one - when you don't have control. You are going to need to be able to manage it on the day as you presumably need this surgery.

And you are also being breathtakingly rude to posters who are trying to help you. I hope to God you aren't going to be as rude as this to the hospital staff.

I think after waiting near on two years to get the op, im allowed to be pissed off that they’re going to have me sitting till 6pm.

How do you know this is going to happen?
Even the staff don't know until the day where patients are on the list.

I spent all day yesterday waiting for DD to have a procedure. It was an early afternoon one, but she hadn't eaten for 24 hours when she had it done. Yes, she was very hungry, but she didn't bellyache on and on about it the way you are.

You have no idea how anxiety provoking it is, and clearly neither do the doctors or nurses on this thread!

Wrong on both counts.

I’ve had lots of surgeries and it seems to be by consultant’s request. I think it may be slightly different as the speciality and surgeon has the theatre for the day. So what he wants to do when is what happens. Once I went first because I was the least complicated case. Another time it was just me all day because surgery expected to take 6 hours (arrival at 7am, went in about 8:30am), but actually it took 9 hours and we finished at 6pm.

There have been times when I’ve missed my slot though because of cannula issues (they couldn’t get it in, then it fell out, then vascular access had to come, then they got the air ambulance guy to come down because he’s really good 😂). So I had to wait because I was causing a delay and they took someone before me. Similar when dd had surgery. The girl across the hall was cannulated and did all the consents faster.

As others have said, it really can vary based on the type of procedure, urgency of cases, existing medical conditions etc.

It also depends on the surgeon. A relative of mine has type 1 diabetes and was meant to be first on the list for a (general anaesthetic but straightforward otherwise op) - as they were nil by mouth. Surgeon waltzed in late, didn't check the list properly (admitted to it), put my relative last on the list, and refused to change it once we pointed it out.

So... you never know.

What do you think they’re doing? They’re operating on other people

I had to be on the ward, fasted by 7.30am.

The list order changed, and my place was moved back due to problem with a previous patient.

It was 1pm when I went and I needed 6 hours of lying flat (it was a kidney op), so there a long time.
Never once did i think to complain that I wasnt seen quicker. Staff were fantastic and I was very grateful to have the procedure done.