NHS NEGLECT, PLEASE HELP!

[Dahmar]

My grandmother is in her 70s, she is in need of an urgent operation to remove her appendix, I’m not sure the technical terms but it’s very swollen and could burst, however it isn’t appendicitis, she was told it could be precancerous.

This was in January, she was told to isolate and prepare for surgery in two weeks, it’s now March third and she went in today, after all this delay, they told her today, when she was supposed to have surgery at 8am, that’ll have to happen tomorrow.
Now at 7pm after being in hospital all day that she’ll have to come back next week.

What can we do?! If it bursts she probably won’t make it.

It’s breaking my heart, she’s in so much pain and if feels like it’s never going to end.

I just need advice on how to get her the surgery as soon as possible, thank you!!

I mean are they even allowed to do this?!

That’s terrible, I’m sorry.

What’s the reasoning given for each delay?

Realistically contact the hospital’s PALS (google it) in the morning as it’s the only way to get something to happen

I absolutely agree, I work in the NHS and you need to contact PALS.

If their not rushing her in they aren’t that worried.

My dh is waiting for heart surgery so I’m not unsympathetic.

Discuss with PALS make sure they know its time sensitive and hopefully they'll get someone from the surgical department to speak to you (they usually get the matron to ring). Keep to the facts, try and take the emotion out of it.
At the hospital I've been in they can only cancel twice and have to have you in on the third time. Check the policy (I think it's standard across the NHS). Not sure if covid effects their gaurentee. Get them to follow up in writing.
I do sympathise I've been waiting 19 months for surgery.

I sympathise, it sucks it really does but there is nothing you can do and it is not neglect.
Someone will have made the decision that she is safe to not have the surgery until potentially next week.
Under usual circumstances they do have to give you a date within 2 weeks but not so sure during a pandemic.
Contact PALS at the hospital who will be able to give you "local" advice for the situation.

This isnt neglect. It isnt nice though. Has she been sent home with pain relief? Realistically, if they've sent her home and delayed the surgery the surgeon isnt that worried. I understand her pain and frustration though. I think you need to complain to PALS.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

This isnt neglect. It isnt nice though. Has she been sent home with pain relief? Realistically, if they've sent her home and delayed the surgery the surgeon isnt that worried. I understand her pain and frustration though. I think you need to complain to PALS.

This^ The surgeon must not be overly worried that her appendix will burst....he wouldn’t risk his career over that....but obviously very distressing for her

Is it a grumbling appendix or similar? I had this, caused by appendix stones - 18 months prior to having it removed.

Not unsympathetic at all, as it’s horrid, but the surgeon must feel fairly confident to delay the surgery as otherwise they would remove it immediately.

Hospitals get fined for cancellations on the day, they really don't want to do it. However they will if they can't be sure there will be an appropriate recovery bed for after the op.

At this time of year there are generally lots of people in beds, particularly in the frail and elderly wards where your relative would need a bed.

The hospital want to help get people home safely as soon as possible but if a patient the6 expected to be well enough to discharge isn't then they can't do your relatives op as the other patient is already in a bed.

If it was an emergency then the op would be done, but it's not, it is an elective surgery that can be rescheduled. The emergency patients will take priority as they should. But of course it is upsetting and frustrating for you and family.

It would be worth complaining to get a better understanding of the reasons and the real risk level in this delay.

Complain to PALS.

Could she present at another A and E and go from there??

Complaining to pals will just piss the surgeon off. It’s not like they cancelled the ops for giggles is it.

What can a hospital do though if they just don't have enough staff? There's massive staff shortages in the NHS. Serious question, what can they do? The only think I can think of it fund it better and train more staff. I just can't see that happening though.

It isn’t neglect-you’re being over dramatic. There’s obviously a reason this decision has been made. It isn’t because they can’t be bothered to operate.

The surgeon must not be overly worried that her appendix will burst....he wouldn’t risk his career over that....but obviously very distressing for her

Please don't assume the surgeon is male.

Waiting times have gone up. It's inevitable given the demands on the service. Doesn't make it great on the receiving end. Contact PALs. Hope she's ok.

I'm sorry for your situation but this isnt neglect. Definitely contact PALS, I hope they can get it sorted for her but she will have been medically assessed and deemed safe enough to delay the op.

It's really tough times in the NHS at the moment, there really arent enough drs and beds to go around.

Theatre lists are being cancelled at very short notice at the minute. As there are still many Covid patients in hospitals. (It's dropped from 450 a few weeks ago, to 250 this week) in my hospital. It's just unfortunate. But they can't do surgery that would be unsafe.