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?

Like I said upthread they do sometimes - I don't know how OP is getting on at present or if she could take a taxi, she needs to speak to the staff

Try to get someone to collect you.. you might feel dreadful. They do actually know what they're on about!- they might check pre-procedure if you have someone to collect you and if not, they might cancel you as they won't have a bed allocated to you. If you're letter tells you to have someone arranged, I think you should do that, if possible.
If you do manage to get the procedure, of course you can discharge yourself against medical advice- it's not a prison lol!

Forgot to add... hope all goes well!

No need for the "FFS" 🙄

Previous posters said, the hospital will cancel the surgery. No "or...", just "they will cancel"

I would not be asking any of my friends to pick me up. I know they would, but I would feel terrible for asking, so I wouldn't ask. Just no.

No one said, they'll keep you overnight until @Destiny123 helpfully said so, all the posts said they'll just cancel. I was questioning that.

Jesús the hysteria, yes of course you can leave. Whenever I've had general I've been picked by someone waiting outside - they didn't let family members on the post op ward! So I just said eg 'yes my mums outside' and off I went.

Should you is a different matter, but yes you can

I’ve never had a GA but if you’ve got a partner at home, then I can’t see how him picking you up vs you getting your self home is much different.

I would probably try and get a taxi as it’s quicker and comfier but see how you feel on the day.

You could even go to the hospital cafe for an hour or 2 to make sure you’re feeling ok.

You are being ridiculous, you cannot drive for at least 48 hours because you would be unsafe and getting a bus is downright bloody stupid.

Lots of hospitals provide patient transport.

Lots of people seem to have different experiences. When I have had HA the nurse called DH when I was in recovery after my tea and biscuits and made him come in to the ward to collect
Same as when I collected my father recently after GA they called my mobile and said ready collect however was told to go to the ward, they wouldn’t let him go without seeing me

... because hospitals do*, for all sorts of patients with all sorts of situations that mean they don't have anybody who can collect them. They also provide transport to the hospital for routine appointments, for people who can't get themselves there.

*at least they certainly used to. It's possible this has been scaled back in more recent years due to budget cuts and general pressure on the NHS - though the drivers are often volunteers.

You can ask for Patient Transport to take you too and from the hospital. They will probably get you there about an hour early and you may have to wait for an hour or two afterwards to be collected and taken home but it's all free.

Good luck with your op Op.

They've not told me I can't drive for 48 hours, I actually asked that as I'm driving the next day

She said if you wake up and feel fine it's fine.

You'll still have the anaesthetic in your system and you'll probably feel achy and drowsy. You would be unsafe to drive imo.

That is just total ignorance from whoever was talking to you.. its illegal for 24h minimum. 24-48h depends on your health state. Ask your anaesthetist

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/general-anaesthesia/

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient-information-resources/patient-faqs#:~:text=Following%20any%20general%20anaesthetic%20or,get%20rid%20of%20these%20medicines.

Direct from the Royal college of anaesthetists

Sorry by which means not on lots of painkillers, not drowsy, dizzy, nauseous, and almost pain free, as if you can't emergency stop then you're invalidating your insurance and if you crash are unlikely to be covered

Not sure what op op you're having but even at <48h it's risky

no its not prison but not advised-you can sign someting saying youre going against advise ten leave

Same. I was so spaced out after my last GA, I couldn't walk straight - almost passed out when they let me go to the bathroom on the ward.
In fact, they were in two minds whether to keep me in overnight, even though my DH was collecting me.

Another vote for the Medibus, patient transport service, or whatever equivalent operates in your area. It’s a step up from a service bus in terms of convenience and cost. But way cheaper and less convenient than a taxi.

You can only sign a disclaimer if you're mentally competent at the time which a lot of post op patients aren't

I hope you don’t drive the day after an anaesthetic as you will be a liability on the roads. You aren’t even supposed to boil a kettle for 24 hours after one as your judgement will be impaired. You might ‘feel’ alright but it will still be in your system.

Yes you can get transport , but you will need someone with you for the next 24 hours. They will ring them to check.Most people are fine after a GA , but you won't be got to drive for 24 hours after.

I've discharged myself before and taken a 20 minute walk to the station, hour on train plus another 30 minutes on the tube.

Obviously didn't leave straight after, so see how you felt before making a decision.

For God’s sake if you have to leave the hospital, get a taxi home. You may well feel whoozy and disoriented - my DD was when I accompanied her home from hospital last week and she only had sedation.

I used to work as a nurse in a private hospital in endoscopy, where patients were given sedation, normally Midazolam, and sometimes Morphine.

The rule was that if no one could collect you, you had to get a taxi. The patient would be told to go down to reception and ask for a taxi to be called, but no one actually escorted them down to the reception to make sure.

I do know for a fact that some used to say they were getting a taxi, but didn't, and went home by themselves on public transport. We even had one man who drove and left his car in a paid car park and said he was driving home. When I told him he couldn't he said he'd get a taxi, but I doubt he did.

How do you they didnt ?. Blame the nurses again, not always their fault