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Original poster

Can you go straight home after having GA? General Anaesthetic

224 replies

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:52

I'm due an op soon. It says 'you must' have someone with you to pick you up after surgery.

But I don't have anyone able to. H will be busy elsewhere. So I hope they don't cancel my surgery Sad simply because I have nobody

But my main question is, how soon after a short time under GA can you go home? Is it simply a case of blood pressure reading fine and then doing a wee? As they like to make sure you can wee

Can I just go after that? It'll have to be in a taxi but the booklet I've got is again saying you can't leave the ward alone

OP posts:
abmac95 · 24/01/2023 08:15

Just lie and then discharge yourself. They can't stop you leaving.

TangoBrava · 24/01/2023 08:15

I meant to add, my adult child was in a bad way after a GA a month ago. It was not good. She actually lived opposite the hospital and her consultant had already said she must not leave and must be collected. After picking her up, I understood why. She really needed looking after!

She also threw up in the car 🙈

bigbluebus · 24/01/2023 08:23

Had to get our DD into emergency respite when DH needed to have day surgery so I could take DH to hospital for 7.00am and collect him afterwards. He was 1st on the list but last to be discharged as he wasn't able to wee after the anaesthetic in spite if endless cups of tea. They ended up fitting a catheter and sending him home with that in overnight and had to return the following day.

Have you contacted your GP surgery to see if they have a volunteer transport scheme who might be able to arrange someone to transport you (generally at a set 'per mile' cost)

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General health
SD1978 · 24/01/2023 08:27

I was in a similar position, so said nothing, got the procedure, and then when they said it was time to leave/ get picked up, discharged myself against medical advice. Not to be an arse, but because the procedure was necessary and there was no one who could pick me up. Had someone at home with me, but didn't for the taxi ride home. Don't regret it at all.

Patineur · 24/01/2023 08:33

SD1978 · 24/01/2023 08:27

I was in a similar position, so said nothing, got the procedure, and then when they said it was time to leave/ get picked up, discharged myself against medical advice. Not to be an arse, but because the procedure was necessary and there was no one who could pick me up. Had someone at home with me, but didn't for the taxi ride home. Don't regret it at all.

That sounds all very stressful. When I had a procedure under sedation recently, they asked for the number of whoever was taking me home, then afterwards they phoned him to say I was ready. When he texted to say he was outside the main entrance to the building, a nurse escorted me down to the car. I really didn't want arguments about why I couldn't give them a number and about discharging myself.

FurAndFeathers · 24/01/2023 08:38

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:55

@Chowtime that's bloody awful.

@boysforyoueh

No it isn’t

they’ve given you clear instructions - follow them or accept you are likely going to waste thousands innNHS resources whilst they cancel and reschedule.

no one wants to do this his but if you cannot follow straightforward instructions and refuse to let them know that you cannot meet the requirements, they don’t really have a choice

BunchHarman · 24/01/2023 08:39

Some people’s lives are just so difficult.

jannier · 24/01/2023 08:39

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:57

My H doesn't drive and he will be looking after our disabled child at home

Don't you know one person who could drive you home?

Back2Back2t · 24/01/2023 08:40

They don't allow you to leave unless someone collects you.
I thought I could just waltz out, I only had a wisdom tooth removed but I was told no way. Thank goodness my sister was available to come for me.

TheShiningPup · 24/01/2023 08:45

I was allowed home in a taxi on my own. My OH was at home but doesn't drive. They were fine with that.

SD1978 · 24/01/2023 08:46

@Patineur - I really felt like an arse to be honest, but also didn't feel I was given any other option. It's easy to breezily say just ask someone. When there is genuinely no one it's not you trying to be obstructive- it's the life you have! I had an elderly but capable relative at home, who was looking after my daughter. I was not having them, come pick me up in a taxi, without a car seat, when I'm an adult, and I am making an informed choice that I am fine to do the journey in a taxi on my own. I didn't put anyone in danger as I didn't drive, I'd eaten, had something to drink, normal obs and cleared. I'd do it again if I had to, because like I say- assuming everyone has a community just isn't true!

Dogsgottabone · 24/01/2023 08:48

Zola1 · 23/01/2023 22:11

My partner discharged himself agter a GA. No idea why I as was on my way to pick him up and was intending to go in for him but he was outside when I arrived, just said he'd had enough

I did the same after a GA and day surgery in a private hospital last summer.

Waited till I felt a bit less woozy and I'd seen the consultant, packed my bag and walked out. Waited outside for DH. Didn't tell the nurses I was going. I needed fresh air by that point.

Also I hadn't eaten anything as I'd had throat surgery so I stood outside and sucked some chocolate in the sunshine.

Just tell them your DH is coming for you and do the same thing.

AppleIsMyName · 24/01/2023 09:00

As usual, lots of people giving terrible advice. Telling OP to ignore medical instruction and just "walk out".

Nothing new here, just another day on mumsnet.

TheShiningPup · 24/01/2023 09:01

Don't you know one person who could drive you home?

I know people who in theory could have driven me home. But the reality was it wasn't just a lift at a specified time I would have needed, it would have been someone to be on standby, taking time off work to give me a lift. The people I know locally are acquaintances more than friends and I don't think I'd be comfortable asking them to use annual leave to pick me up, I can imagine others have similar circumstances.

Xrays · 24/01/2023 09:01

jannier · 24/01/2023 08:39

Don't you know one person who could drive you home?

Show quote history

Op has already answered this.

Lots of people don’t have anyone at all. It isn’t that unusual.

Aloneonprecipice · 24/01/2023 09:11

I had a minor procedure done after GA last year. They did let me go alone in a taxi after I specifically told them that we don't have a car and my husband is at home with kids, and I will be received by a responsible adult (husband) when I reach home.
They even arranged the taxi themselves.

Tippexy · 24/01/2023 09:11

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:11

@Soontobe60 My car

You literally wrote “my car” in response to the question “how were you going to get there?”

Like another on this thread, you were planning to drive there, and drive back after general anaesthetic.

It’s ok to admit it!

Tippexy · 24/01/2023 09:12

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 22:00

@Blowyourowntrumpet no, no public transport and the taxi is £40 each way (not far but we are rural so taxi company charge what they like unfortunately)

So I'd need to get a taxi there, then H a taxi, then a taxi back again

I don't have £120 for it

Except, if you maintain you were not going to drive - it’s only an extra £40 you need to find, not £120? 🤔

SnakeOiler · 24/01/2023 09:13

I’ve always been let go without a responsible adult with me but they have to fill in on their paperwork who is taking you home and what support you have.

do you not have 1 friend OP? I can’t imagine not helping someone out in that situation.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/01/2023 09:14

Can you enquire about hospital transport? You may have to make a contribution to cover petrol, but a lot of hospital had ( ?used to have?) volunteers who would do this. Your GP may have the details, as well.

Insertusernamehere123 · 24/01/2023 09:42

Probably already been suggested but do the hospital not have patient transport? You may be waiting around for hours but at least will be able to go home.

AdelaideRo · 24/01/2023 10:02

In my trust you have to be collected by an adult.
in the daycase unit I work in (no admitting rights for that specialty to the rest of the hospital) your escort has to be with you at the time your procedure starts or you get cancelled.
if you can’t get an escort you have to go on the much longer waiting list for an inpatient op at a nearby hospital.

i’m gobsmacked by some of these policies/ practices. The advice is not to drive after sedation/GA for 24hrs. If a patient ignored this and caused an accident they would be liable. If they could prove they weren’t told the hospital would be.

An escort /adult at home is to keep the patient safe in case of an emergency. Again if these requirements were ignored, there was an issue and the patient came to harm I think the hospital staff would be liable.

If you are staff just imagine explaining to the coroner that you knew Ms X was travelling home alone but let her do it anyway post GA and she got knocked over getting from the taxi to her house as the driver dropped her away from her door. It would be very uncomfortable I imagine.

Greybeardy · 24/01/2023 10:38

boysforyoueh · 24/01/2023 03:47

Of course they will let you live. If you absolutely insist. They can't keep you against your will surely

Show quote history

The reason we advise people not to sign important documents/drive/operate heavy machinery for 24hrs after an anaesthetic relates to the fact that your capacity may be impaired for that period. You may ‘feel’ fine but not be (most drink drivers ‘feel’ like they can drive safely….some of them probably can….some of them catastrophically can’t - you only find out which ones are good too late). I have seen stranger things than security/police being asked to hunt down missing patients after sedation/anaesthetic.

Hospitals aren’t completely insensitive to the fact people have complicated lives. They can only plan for problems they know about though. It actually isn’t unusual for people to need to stay overnight for ‘social’ reasons, but if that isn’t planned for in advance it can become difficult. People also sometimes need to stay overnight for surprise reasons - beds will always be found when it’s necessary even with things as they are at the mo.

Greybeardy · 24/01/2023 10:41

MeanderingGently · 24/01/2023 06:41

In my opinion it depends how small the operation is. I have a small day op every 6-9 months for an ongoing condition, it's not a GA but sedated and on the operating table. I have to rest afterwards but can go the same day.

At first I used to comply with all the conditions and spent time arranging for folk to collect me but after a while I didn't bother. I know how the operation affects me, no-one asks who is collecting me or anything so I don't say. All the letters I get each time detail how I'm supposed to be accompanied, can't drive, must go home with someone etc., but I just ignore. I drive myself there, and when I'm ready to go I drive myself home, without anyone with me. If I don't feel too good I wait until I'm fine to drive.

And no they can't keep you against your will although if they're really worried they can get you to sign papers to say you've discharged yourself against medical advice (it covers them rather than you)....but in your position I'd be saying nothing and then just go.

Were your insurance company happy when you discussed driving after sedation with them? Most companies historically aren’t - would be useful to know if that’s changing.

pissssedofff · 24/01/2023 10:48

boysforyoueh · 23/01/2023 21:55

@Chowtime that's bloody awful.

Why is it "awful"?

a Hospital isn't a hotel.

TBH if my partner was too busy to help me, i'd be pretty pissed off.