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Original poster

NHS "dont bring any valuables with you"

52 replies

JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 17:03

A friend of mine may be having a cataract op soon. His first appointment letter came with a booklet telling him what to expect and on one of the pages in bold it said "dont bring any valuables with you" Obviously things like a watch or jewellery wouldnt be necessary to bring with you. But he will need to bring his flat keys, phone and wallet with him. So he can book and pay for a taxi afterwards (he is expected to be able to go home the same day) So will they have somewhere for these to be safely stored?

OP posts:
ChangedForEmbarrassingQuestions · 29/05/2023 17:06

There will probably be a lockable cupboard with his medication in by the bed or in the office.

But this also extends to personally valuable things eg photos, mug etc.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 29/05/2023 17:07

He won't get a bed for a cataract surgery, he'll go into a waiting area and then be taken straight into the procedure room. From experience of a similar eye surgery I was able to take my bag in with me and it was put in the corner then I was given it back when everything was done.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 17:08

Thank You Last time i was a hospital patient was twenty years ago so i wasnt sure what the protocol is now

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 17:10

Yes they said he would be going home the same day

OP posts:
Stratocumulus · 29/05/2023 17:11

The clinic will call a taxi for him so he could leave phone at home.
Flat key on a lanyard around his neck?
A few quid in his trouser pocket to pay for taxi?
I took my handbag into a recent clinical day case procedure so I’m sure if he cuts possessions to a minimum he’ll be fine.

JulieHoney · 29/05/2023 17:12

He’ll be under half and hour and out.

He can keep his phone and keys in his pocket.

User63847484848 · 29/05/2023 17:13

It’s so sad how common it is for things to be stolen in hospital 😞

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 17:14

Oh i had no idea cataract operations were that quick

OP posts:
hopeishere · 29/05/2023 17:17

I dropped DH for his, dropped the kids to school and the went and picked him up! Super fast!!

QuintanaRoo · 29/05/2023 17:25

Whenever I’ve had day surgery I could not take valuables into the operating theatre but stuff was locked in a metal box on the wall by my bed space cubicle. I felt it was safe enough. Left my phone in there happily.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/05/2023 17:28

User63847484848 · 29/05/2023 17:13

It’s so sad how common it is for things to be stolen in hospital 😞

Common in my experience plus things get lost easily a d everyone is too busy too look for them.

aloofflooty · 29/05/2023 17:38

User63847484848 · 29/05/2023 17:13

It’s so sad how common it is for things to be stolen in hospital 😞

Not sure about stolen but lost incredibly easily. So much movement and stuff in hospitals. Bit like a school where everything needs to be labelled if you want to keep tabs on it!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 29/05/2023 17:53

How long you'll be there will depend on how they run the cataract clinic. My local hospital have everyone booked for morning or afternoon.

Morning arrive at 9am and sit in a waiting area then taken through to the theatre and done within 20-30 mins. They keep you in the waiting area for a few minutes to make sure your ok afterwards then you leave. They usually have a couple of Drs working the queue so people move through quickly but you could be at the start or end of the morning list.

missingeu · 29/05/2023 17:54

There should a be a lockable cupboard/box for him to use.

We once had a patient, who was very reluctant to take off his hat. Underneath said had was bank notes in screawed up balls worth £2000. Which we had to count, give patient a receipt and take to A&E to put in their safe.

I dread to think what would have happened if someone else took his hat off. The £2000 was his rent and food money. He didn't trust banks.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 29/05/2023 17:55

User63847484848 · 29/05/2023 17:13

It’s so sad how common it is for things to be stolen in hospital 😞

I was in healthcare for 23 years. You don’t leave anything out, I’ve worked in clinics where the staff room cutlery’s been stolen.

Hbh17 · 29/05/2023 17:58

This is not new at all. Nobody with any sense takes their valuables into hospital - going back decades.

Beseen22 · 29/05/2023 18:02

Don't take anything non essential in. I work there and I don't leave a single thing lying because there has been so much stolen. I once worked at a hospital where 2 men showed up with a white van and high vis on came up to a ward and wheeled a hoist out.

Original poster
JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 18:04

@Hbh17 Well yes for jewellery but the keys to get back into your home are pretty valuable and a patient cant leave those at home. Valuable has many connotations.

Back in the late 90s there was a spate of thefts from the lockers at our local swimming pool The local polices advice? Leave your wallets purses keys at home. The stupidity was off the charts.

OP posts:
Original poster
JenniferBooth · 29/05/2023 18:05

Fucking hell @Beseen22 the brass neck of that

OP posts:
luckylavender · 29/05/2023 18:11

JulieHoney · 29/05/2023 17:12

He’ll be under half and hour and out.

He can keep his phone and keys in his pocket.

I've just had it done. Took longer than half an hour with all the pre and post checks. Had to put valuables in locker. Couldn't have them on me.

JulieHoney · 29/05/2023 18:14

luckylavender · 29/05/2023 18:11

I've just had it done. Took longer than half an hour with all the pre and post checks. Had to put valuables in locker. Couldn't have them on me.

Show quote history

My Dad was 25 minutes in and out but they did the pre op checks the day before

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 29/05/2023 18:15

Shall we segue onto paramedics who steal jewellery and valuables off old people or is it too early in the evening?

Looks at the HCPC tribunals, upcoming and previous hearings if you really want an eye opener.

You need to know what really goes on before you support healthcare professionals striking for money.

TheBitterBoy · 29/05/2023 18:16

The whole appointment takes two ish hours. The actual op is minutes. When I had mine done there was a locker to put my bag in, but I had my phone in my pocket (off) during the operation. You wear your normal clothes.

CheeseAndOnionIsMyFav · 29/05/2023 18:21

I think it's to stop people coming with heirloom/sentimental jewellery, lots of cash and handbags full of stuff. I had all my possessions documented on a big form, I was told they would be placed in a locked cabinet on the ward and I was able to get them when I got there after day surgery. Bag was ready for me when I arrived, no problems at all.

I took a small backpack with £20, bank card, phone, charger, door keys and kindle. It would have taken ages to document my stuff if I arrived with my usual day-to-day work handbag Grin

ididntwanttodoit · 29/05/2023 18:23

I was advised to take a bag into surgery with me for my valuables.

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