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

I’ve had two lots of day surgery earlier this year. First time I was meant to be on the morning slot and attended at 7.30 am but didn’t get surgery until 3 pm. I was sent home at 6.00 which I thought was a bit quick TBH. The second time it was a slightly easier procedure and I was advised by the surgeon I was likely to be PM as they like to do the operations first where people may need a longer recovery time, so suggested I ring and check as if I wasn’t to be done til the afternoon I didn’t need to get there til midday. But when I rang they advised me I was second on the list for the morning. Easier procedure than the first one and there were obviously no worries about my recovery as I had been operated on similarly only 8 weeks previous, so perhaps they had just slotted me in as an easy one!

The amount you pay in tax has absolutely no bearing on the list whatsoever.

It’s not pot luck, it’s a clinical decision based on circumstance. Diabetes plays a part depending on the fasting period. But there are other concerns such as recovery time and the likelihood of overnight care being needed for late afternoon and evening surgeries.

Try and have a nap if you need to, I did for about 3 weeks after my op although mine was a very long one so I guess it knocked me out a bit more
even just half an hour closing your eyes helps

Pot luck unless there's a medical reason like diabetics being up first for eg.

Anaesthetic stays in your tissues for a while, so you just have to wait it out. You do need to rest though OP - try to get some sleep if you can. It’ll help with the head fog.

That’s not true. I once fasted 3 days in a row until 7pm (the first 2 days I got cancelled) as 7pm was cut off that if you haven’t been put under, then you’ll be cancelled

Yep, good for you. Don’t be bullied into going back before you’re ready. Surgery is a big thing whatever it’s for.

Thank you. My friend had a hip replacement a few years ago, and thinking about it now, that may well have been a day surgery. Obviously I was having a senior moment!

So many procedures are day surgeries now. I has a mastectomy in early 2019 and that was a day surgery. I was incredibly anxious, despite it being my decision (as opposed to chemotherapy/lumpectomy/radiotherapy), and my lovely surgeon made sure I was first on his list. I arrived in the elective surgery waiting room at 7.30am and went down to theatre at 9.20am. I was home by 7.30 that evening.

Tell your manager where to go. You’ve had surgery and you need time to recover.

That's interesting. Thank you.

Techniques and protocols for hip surgery have evolved.

When my late mother had her hip replaced by the NHS over 25 years ago, she was booked in for a week in hospital.

I had a complex hip replacement operation nearly three years ago, privately.

The surgeon I selected had pioneered day case hip replacement in this part of the country. I had a choice of having my operation done under GA or under spinal block, with or without sedation. I chose spinal block because I have dental implants and a ceramic bridge and I did not want to risk potential damage to the ceramic crowns.

Some of my surgeon's patients elect to have spinal block with no sedation and they are able to talk to the surgical team while the operation is being done.

I chose to have some sedation. I was aware of a feeling of pressure (but no pain) when the initial incision was made and at one point, I was aware of banging (likely when the implant was being hammered down the femoral shaft). Other than that I wasn't aware of anything. I didn't hear the saw when the femoral head was being sawn off and I could not hear voices or music, nor was I aware of the passage of time although it did not feel as though one minute I was asleep and the next I was awake but a hazy, in limbo sort of feeling.

I was booked in for at least one night but in the event I had two nights and was discharged on the morning of the third day. I spent the first night with both legs in an automatic compression device which is noisy and I got no sleep at all, so I was happy to get an extra night in hospital, especially as I was self funding.

I much preferred spinal block to GA although you do have to wait a few hours before the numbness wears off in your legs and you can stand up and get out of bed. Also, I could not empty my bladder for a few hours and that became uncomfortable.

I had posterior approach surgery, but anterior approach is also being used and this can enable patients to have day case surgery and to be more mobile by the next day. As it was, I was walking around on crutches the next morning or using a walker and I was able to do stairs with a walking stick on the morning of the second day after my op and deemed fit for discharge. I could also manage the stairs once I was home.

If I have to have the other hip done in the future I would go for spinal block again and possibly with less sedative, although I'm not sure I'd want to be able to hear everything and talk to the surgical staff.

I hope you recover well, ScuderiaSedici and can find a way to reduce your stress at work.

What do you do?

I worked for the NHS in General Surgery for 15 years and the list was always being moved around & cancelled and I was even slightly confused sometimes, if you get time then watch tv's Critical List which explains it all down to a tee.

This has been such a depressing read. I wish you had listened a little more to people who know what they’re talking about when it comes to how complex surgical timing can be, rather than thinking surgeons/anaesthetists are ‘letting people down’ etc.

Just a vast sense of entitlement.

When I had my c-section I was the first in because everyone else was more complex. I think surgury lists will very much depend on the specialism and what they are dealing with that day.

I think it really depends on the day and the needs of others. Our experience was that special needs patients can be given priority over clinical need.

We were told our type 1 diabetic daughter would be first on the list, however on the day a child with autism was deemed to have higher need.

We had a similar experience when my undiagnosed but volatile then 5 yr old waited all day for an MRI. He tried his best but hunger, thirst and boredom led to a meltdown about 5 pm where I had to take him in a side room... Oddly he was taken next. We went in to the same hospital for tonsillectomy 4 weeks later again expecting a long wait... Moved to first on list, play therapist on hand, referral to neuropsychology.... ADHD and likely ASD we realise now he's 7

When I had surgery. I had to go to hospital at 7am. The day of surgery (not before) I was told a rough time for surgery (it did end up being a bit later). Again that day of surgery (not before) I saw the anaesthetist who went through his bits and the surgeon came to see me and told me exactly what he was going to do. Unfortunately when people and procures are involved things can change and not go to plan. I know that doesn’t help you but the staff are not trying to make this difficult.

Because you’re an adult? Adults can take themselves to the toilet?

In many cases joint replacements actually are day cases if they’re straighforward.

It can be. Same with knees or any other joint really