Can they prevent me leaving?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I have to have a general anaesthetic and then be discharged the same day.

My partner can't come and get me.

Can I discharge myself. The nurse said 'they wouldn't let me leave unless I was with someone'

Anyone know?

They can't stop you no. I've taken my own drip out and left before

They frequently do, they did for friend last week. Depends on OPs circumstances and the hospital.

My son had a minor op with a general and when I collected him we had to stop three times in 20 minutes for him to throw up. He was quite shaky and he's a very fit 20 year old! Next day he still felt tired and not up for anything.

What happens if you don’t have anyone who could? Do you just get no medical care indefinitely?

Ok, but there was not mention of "circumstances" was there!!

If that was mentioned, most FM's would have been aware of that and this is why hospitals pick up and drop off at home people who are frail/vulnerable.

@DistingusedSocialCommentator sounds like the hospital just want someone to keep an eye on her if she's disorientated or has an adverse reaction (@LaurieFairyCake please correct me if I'm wrong)

and for no other reasons IE, very frail, lacks mental capacity, prone to falls, living alone has no family carers?

There is strict criteria for getting help like that - well in London there is as I dealt with the public and most were adults and many were frail and or elderly frail and people often complained about not being brought back home by the nhs

@DistingusedSocialCommentator I guess it really differs, I'm in miles less of a sprawling metropolis!

I'd ask neighbour and her boyfriend to take care of me for a couple of hours if I got ill, as long as they didn't have other commitments. I could repay it in other ways like buy them a meal. Not with me, just for the two of them.

I can understand OP just wanting to go home though

Nobody will come arrest you no. But they say to have someone with you for very good reasons, all of them to do with your welfare. So probably best to make some sort of alternative arrangement.

but the Op might be able to be detained under the mental health act if she is judged incompetent after the GA, which she might be, so in those circumstances, yes, you could be sectioned. I saw this a few years ago in heavy snow when a patient tried to leave inadequately dressed, and apparently unaware normal precautions that would be taken against cold. She was sectioned. She had nothing wrong with her except she was recovering from a GA. A bit of taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut, but the only way she could be physically prevented from leaving the hospital and kept safe.

I was once escorted home from a GA and robbed a supermarket where we stopped off on the way - fortunately my escort was able to explain, and I was released. I have no recollection, but was shown the CCTV a few weeks later.

YOu cannot sign any legal papers within 24 hours of GA either.

It is not unusual to lose your memory or hallucinate after GA. You would be stupid to discharge yourself. And criminal to drive.

@LaurieFairyCake are you not coming back??? why cant your partner come to collect you? you would be stupid to discharge yourself against medical advice after having had a GA.

Anaesthetist. That's a ridiculous idea. You have to be collected by someone from the ward

It's illegal and invalidates your insurance to drive within 24h of an anaesthetic

If anyone found out preop I'd catergorically refuse to anaesthetise you for your sake and my own conscience

If we know that's the case, we book you an overnight bed on the ward

No, the hospital books them an overnight bed and they go home the following day

Was she self discharging against medical advice? Or just without a lift home though. There's a big difference

🙄 Theyre not going to get denied health care ffs

They'll either let you wait until your friend/relative has finished their "job thing" for the day & can come for you or as pp said they'll keep you overnight

My DS (adult) had a nasty tooth extraction under sedation. He was still quite out of it when I went to collect him and the next day had no memory of the journey home despite walking to the car and talking. He'd probably have been a danger to himself or someone else alone. I imagine GA is at least the same if not worse.

No you're absolutely right, my friend just had assistance.

My mother was in hospital recently but they did provide assistance to care home.

I discharged myself from hospital a few years back against their advice but it wasn't anything like a GA, I had to get back to feed the cat and a friend picked me up.

I've recently refused to anaesthetise a man who drove to the hospital and said was driving home. I'm not having him die at the wheel/cause some massive accident on my conscience.

He just sat on the ward until his daughter drove down and came to the ward, then we took him to theatre and she took him home

I felt fine after general anaesthetic. I had to stay longer for other reasons but I would leave the same day if it was a simple procedure.

I had a ga surgery on Thursday and was released to go honm with my 12 year old son who had come to the hospital from school. No one batted an eyelid other than to ask if we were able to get home. My husband did pick us up not that the hospital seemed to care. As long as you are not driving.

Yup you can discharge against medical advice- but do t tell them in advance. I've had to do it a few times, not through any desire to be unsafe or difficult, but because it's either that or I can't have the procedure. I'm comfortable with the risk, it's my risk to take, but not everyone has a person they can ask for help.

Thanks all. If I feel awful I can get the taxi to come and get me, if I feel ok I will get the bus (my preferred option)

I can't afford the taxi really and what I definitely don't want is to have to bring my partner in a taxi to get me - as it will then be about £25!

( he can't get the bus or drive - he's on crutches and can't even touch one foot to the ground - too unstable to get the bus, I doubt he could even get to the bus stop)

Why on earth should they?