NHS-Just had operation. Porter said this!!!!!

[IsAnybodyListening]

Recently had complex surgery following an accident, and I have been home a few days now. The more I think about this, the angrier I get. As not to drip feed this was basically the situation.

My consultant and surgeons were utterly fantastic with me. My last surgery was over 10yrs ago, unfortunately there were complications plus I developed an infection post surgery and became extremely ill. Due to this, they were aware how anxious I was to be going under anesthesia again and were incredibly understanding.

Whilst on the ward. I was nil by mouth. Surgery was postponed 3 times due to life and death situations which is completely understandable, however during this time I hadn't ate in 38hrs which I was OK with, however the first issue were Nurses kept refusing to give me fluid. They weren't listening to me that surgery was delayed and that I could have water up until a few hrs before going into theatre. By sheer luck the anesthetist happened to pop into my room for me to sign consent forms whilst I was begging for a drink and told the nurse to give me fluid.

By this point, I'm hungry, exhausted, unable to sleep as in pain and very thirsty and drained, also scared of pending surgery and when it might happen.

The porter came to wheel me to theatre. Just before going into the operating room she is making idle chit chat, and the surgeon comes out to see me and help wheel me in. The porter obviously doesn't know what I've been through, my history or anything about me, and for some bizarre reason declares in the most jovial tone ' Just remember when they knock you out, not to go to heaven when you're under'!!!!!!

The surgeon heard, and fair play to him he looked bloody furious with this comment.

Anyhow, I had surgery, it should have been 2hrs but was closer to 6hrs. Now I am home and recovering, I can't stop thinking about what she said RIGHT before I had a massive operation. Who says something so stupid?

Do I assume the surgeon would have raised it as he definitely heard, or should I go down the formal complaint route? It keeps playing over in my mind, that and my surgery didn't actually go as expected and involved more surgeons and hours than initially expected and since I woke up, I can't stop thinking about what she said. Death IS a risk with surgery. Why would a health care professional say something so utterly careless like that in such a serious situation?

If you managed to read all that, thanks. Not sure if this should be in AIBU or is it a more WWYD question?

If they carry on saying crap.like this they may find themselves out of a job before to long .

I definitely think this is worth feeding back to the hospital, not to get the porter in trouble, but to spare others the upset of a similar comment made in the moments before a potentially very frightening event.

I’d be much more inclined to complain about the nurses who hold a professional degree not giving a patient water when they needed it and were allowed it.

Exactly. I've have formally complained about that and probably helped myself to water from the loos or wherever.

A bit of perspective is needed OP.

Many other people would have replied to the porter 'Ill try my best!'

Humour, you know, even if it's macabre or gallows humour.

It was insensitive but the porter knew nothing about your post-op infection years ago and that's really your issue to deal with, not a throw away comment.

I think you need to let this one go. It was a throwaway comment that I think 99% of people would have taken as lighthearted chat.

OP a porter, is not really a Health Care Professional.

They earn the min wage and all they do is push trolleys.

Why weren't you furious about being denied fluids by the nurse?
If anything that is where you should complain as it was detrimental to your health and dangerous. And she IS a HCP who should know better.

The surgeon will have far more things to deal with than a throw away line by a porter.

Put your energy into your recovery plans.

To be honest I would have laughed my head off and I’ve had major medical issues including cancer

I find being taken to theatre tense and surreal and I am desperate for someone to acknowledge my humanity with a joke.

I think the 36 hours fasting unnecessarily is the thing you should complain about as that’s not caring.

By the way when you are in the operating room waiting to be put to sleep - ask them to wish you luck.

it reminds them that you are not just a patient and you’d be surprised how encouraging they are.

You’re probably still upset after a bad experience- think of something nice you’d do for a friend in the same situation and do it for yourself.

Mind yourself 🦋

wetnwindy49 Would you take the same stance if this was said to your child or parent immediately before being placed under anesthesia?

I would let it go. Complaining won’t make it go away. Life is too short to waste precious time and headspace over something you can’t control.

I would try not to get the trauma of your surgery and a silly comment mixed up. I wouldn't complain, I'd try to put it behind me. Or if I really did feel the need to raise it, it would be as anonymous feedback so it could be used as a learning experience for all staff. Best wishes on your recovery

I think people are missing the point
Its a hospital people will.be there for all.sorts of reasons they may have ,just been given a terminal diagnosis
Lost a loved one
Be very anxious about a procedure etc ,etc
Regardless of minimum wage ,the Porter should have the basic intelligence not make such in appropriate comment to anyone

Plus the surgeon wouldn't have told the porter off, the porter doesn't report to the surgeon, despite being a much lower banding.

I would provide informal feedback in that situation. You are right, porters don’t report to doctors, but we can certainly point out when comments are inappropriate and unhelpful.

I don't know, some people just have zero filter and say whatever comes to their mind, the porter probably thought he was being funny.

I'd have just rolled my eyes and thought what a stupid thing to say and moved on.

I hope you feel better soon.

If someone had said that before I had my major pancreas surgery I’d have definitely complained. Surgeon might be too busy or not think to bring it up

‘Here we go, into theatre, easy does it, now just make sure you don’t die while you’re under, hahahahaha!’- is basically what she said, I don’t get how anyone could think this is appropriate! I think a very factual complaint is fine- just a ‘I had surgery on X day, this comment was made, and made what was already a very stressful time even worse. I’m writing so that the person concerned can be spoken to, and made aware that this kind of comment isn’t appropriate’. End of- you’re not suggesting someone loses their job, but completely fine (and helpful to future patients!) to make sure this porter gets told this kind of comment isn’t ok.

I think you've been through a stressful time and have allowed yourself to fixate on one thing.

The whole situation was overwhelming so by your focus directed to what she said is your way of responding to someone who really was unimportant in the grand scheme of things because she is an easier target than the 'proper' healthcare workers - the nurses - who didn't provide you with fluids.

Don't take aim at this woman who really is insignificant in what your have been through, your thoughts about her are misguided and you should concentrate on your recovery and the operation being a success.

I would drop a line to the hospital to say that during the delays for the operation, your requests for a drink that were ignored or refused made the experience unnecessarily distressing.

Hope your life now improves for you.

Can you imagine the resources needed to investigate this?? Even finding out which of the many porters made it??

I guess when robots are doing every job we won’t have to worry about anyone making stupid comments like this.

We are human. Sometimes we say dumb things. I’d let it go. But I would complain about water being unnecessarily withheld.

I wouldn't complain about this as it was meant as a joke and not offensive just inappropriate if the person you're saying it to doesn't understand your sense of humour. It reminds me of how whenever anybody used to go in to the cellar at work to retrieve old files, people used to say make sure nobody locks the door behind you or hope the building doesn't collapse whilst you're down there. Each time somebody would always make a joke of the sort and it wasn't funny but always happened for some reason.

would you have preferred silence?
obviously the porter was pretty tactless and perhaps not much of a conversationalist. was english their first language?

concentrate on recovery op

Same.

I would put my energy into recovering not into dwelling on a throwaway comment

100% agree.

Porters do an invaluable job but they are not healthcare professionals. The nurses who withheld water on the other hand!!

Couldn't get worked up about a silly comment like that, your real problem was the nurses refusing to give you water.

Sounds like she was trying to keep it light hearted so you wouldn't be so anxious. But it was completely the wrong thing to say.

The comment was inappropriate but I wouldn't complain about it, especially as the surgeon heard and could take it up with the porter if, as you say they looked "bloody furious".

I don't understand why you are brushing over the thing about not getting water though. That's far worse than what the porter did and that should be raised.

I just had major brain surgery. The porter joked that she would get rich selling the hair they would shave off (I have very thick hair). She was just trying to be lighthearted. But inwardly I thought “I’m glad losing my hair is the least of my worries right now”. Pre-surgery, particularly major surgery, is stressful for all involved. I think you just brush this off and focus on a speedy recovery and feel proud despite your fears, you’ve overcome them and had successful results this time round.