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Original poster

Should he lie?

70 replies

VelvetThunderr · 04/01/2026 17:26

Ddad was due to go into hospital tomorrow morning for a slightly uncomfortable procedure. However he has just opened the pack of information sent out to him a fortnight ago and he hasn't done any of the things he was supposed to have done in preparation ie special diet, come off certain tablets etc, avoid alcohol for the last few nights before is also one which he definitely hasn't done.
Should he phone the hospital tomorrow and tell them he has flu?

OP posts:
tara66 · 04/01/2026 21:43

He seems clueless. Doesn't he know he may go to ''back of the queue'' now - which may be along time?

AngelinaFibres · 04/01/2026 21:42

ilovesooty · 04/01/2026 20:57

Surely it can't be a colonsocopy or he'd have had a pre procedure phone call.

Why didn't he open the pack when he received it?

I've had 5 colonoscopies . I have never had a phone call to go over the prep. I've always been given the pack and the powder to drink to clear out my bowel. If Ops father is booked for the morning then the clearout would have begun this morning and taken all day . If the appointment is tomorrow afternoon then the process would have begun this evening with phase 2 tomorrow morning. It's absolutely crucial your bowel is absolutely clear. There is no way to achieve that now. Ops father needs to be honest and to reschedule.

notatinydancer · 04/01/2026 21:42

TheFunDog · 04/01/2026 17:45

There's no point going for the procedure as it won't work... Just tell them he hasn't followed the prep and can he change the appt.... no worries these things happen.

Except someone else could have had the appointment which they could have been waiting months or years for.

BadgernTheGarden · 04/01/2026 21:39

Tell the truth and say he didn't read the information so hasn't prepared. They may say it's OK or not. For some things it may be recovery will be better or quicker rather than they can't do the procedure.

User8008135 · 04/01/2026 21:35

Call them up ats the results won't be accurate. Depending what it is, it can be dangerous to not do the prep and raise risk factors for poor surgical outcome.

Call up ASAP as they may be able to shuffle the people waiting forward time wise or get a cancellation wanting person in. Hopefully they can reschedule your dad, but waiting lists for some things are long - believe me I've been on a couple last year, and still waiting, hoping for a cancallation call up.

HavingABlether · 04/01/2026 21:25

HoppityBun · 04/01/2026 21:01

Then people would lie and say they are ill, exactly as the OP suggests

Show quote history

True. So frustrating though, and entirely avoidable. He's been a donut.

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 04/01/2026 21:21

If it’s a colonoscopy then they wouldn’t be able to do it if he hasn’t done the bowel prep. Might as well tell the truth and hopefully he’ll get a new date through.

Original poster
VelvetThunderr · 04/01/2026 21:17

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😂

OP posts:
ItWasTheBabycham · 04/01/2026 21:11

VelvetThunderr · 04/01/2026 17:40

Nope. Nhs

Of course it is. Presumably if he was paying he would have played closer attention.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 04/01/2026 21:06

He needs to tell the truth.

HoppityBun · 04/01/2026 21:01

Wsiw71 · 04/01/2026 20:51

My view is that: People (anyone) going for a procedure on the NHS who do not follow the prep instructions and the procedure has to be cancelled and rescheduled SHOULD BE CHARGED THE FULL COST OF THE CANCELLATION. It is not a free service we all pay for this. You wouldn't do it if you had to pay privately. It's time people who don't turn up for appointments or mess the system around knowingly get charged.

Then people would lie and say they are ill, exactly as the OP suggests

Whyherewego · 04/01/2026 21:00

Just call them and be honest. Don't lie about flu or whatnot. Just tell the truth. Far better

youalright · 04/01/2026 20:59

PeachyKoala · 04/01/2026 20:58

What an absolute joke.

Hopefully they're able to offer the appointment to someone else.

It will be to late as they won't have had time to do prep it will just completely wasted

PeachyKoala · 04/01/2026 20:58

What an absolute joke.

Hopefully they're able to offer the appointment to someone else.

ilovesooty · 04/01/2026 20:57

Surely it can't be a colonsocopy or he'd have had a pre procedure phone call.

Why didn't he open the pack when he received it?

youalright · 04/01/2026 20:56

Ridiculous someone else could of had that appointment now its to late. Obviously he needs to tell the truth and make sure he does it properly next time and doesn't waste another appointment. It may not seem a big deal but the current state of the nhs people are dying on nhs waiting lists its not a game.

MrsPositivity1 · 04/01/2026 20:52

What a waste of an appointment.

Wsiw71 · 04/01/2026 20:51

My view is that: People (anyone) going for a procedure on the NHS who do not follow the prep instructions and the procedure has to be cancelled and rescheduled SHOULD BE CHARGED THE FULL COST OF THE CANCELLATION. It is not a free service we all pay for this. You wouldn't do it if you had to pay privately. It's time people who don't turn up for appointments or mess the system around knowingly get charged.

hoodiemassive · 04/01/2026 20:49

As others have said, the full truth is the way to go here. I understand not reading the info pack - many people stick their head in the sand when it comes to health worries.

i hope it goes well op.

aWeeCornishPastie · 04/01/2026 20:47

What @Whizzingwhippetsaid

NotrialNodeal · 04/01/2026 20:47

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rwalker · 04/01/2026 20:46

Tbh I think your best getting this thread deleted
what’s done is done
but obviously wasting a precious resource is never going to go down well hence some off the comments

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 04/01/2026 20:46

He should phone them and explain, there may be things that are ideal but not crucial, and he might still be able to have it done / they might be able to shuffle him to the end of the day and for example if it's a colonoscopy, give him the prep and an enema or something.

Do you know why he didn't open the info pack? Is it a head in the sand situation or just because of Christmas?

Original poster
VelvetThunderr · 04/01/2026 20:39

Whizzingwhippet · 04/01/2026 20:30

As someone with relatives waiting for treatment and actually following the instructions they are given, I would have thought he'd maybe prioritise reading the information and not drinking. What a waste of resources and time. The arrogance and entitlement is staggering.

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Good for your relatives

OP posts:
Whizzingwhippet · 04/01/2026 20:30

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As someone with relatives waiting for treatment and actually following the instructions they are given, I would have thought he'd maybe prioritise reading the information and not drinking. What a waste of resources and time. The arrogance and entitlement is staggering.