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Original poster

Patients with nobody to take them home after surgery

68 replies

Aerom · 06/09/2025 20:49

I do wonder how do the NHS cope with patients who have no one to take them home after surgery. There are people living alone with nobody to take them home or have somewhere to stay overnight. Or could have their regular friends who would have done this but on holiday, busy at work, unable to drive due to injury or recovering from surgery themselves.

The patients are not allowed to go by public transport or taxi.

The ambulances are usually for the elderly

I will eventually have no one to pick me up in years to come

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 06/09/2025 20:51

I had an operation and got an uber home as I had no one

If anything just say someone is coming to meet you at the end of the cab journey ❤️

EffectivelyDecluttering · 06/09/2025 20:52

My parents have had patient transport the last few times even though DB and I can drive (so can DMum). This is because although we could drive we can’t park near the buildings for long enough to go to the ward and fetch them down and they wouldn’t be able to walk as far as the main car park. Taxis would be the same problem. I dare say the same can be arranged for others who don’t have other options.

womananddog · 06/09/2025 20:55

I think some operations (those that improve quality of life but are not for a life threatening condition) wouldn't go ahead.

Nursemumma92 · 06/09/2025 20:57

You would need to stay in hospital overnight as you need a responsible adult with you for 24 hours post general anaesthetic. As long as it is brought up at a pre assessment then it shouldn't be a problem. You could then go home via public transport or taxi. Most hospital trusts also have volunteer driver services which act like taxis but only charge for fuel at a much lower cost than a taxi.

vipersnest1 · 06/09/2025 21:56

The only way to do it is lie. I’ve had minor procedures where I shouldn’t drive afterwards and I’ve just said yes I do have someone - the procedures were minor enough that they weren’t really bothered.
I’m having a more major procedure next week, a long distance away from me. I will be staying in accommodation the night before and the night after. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them I’m getting a taxi back to the accommodation (true) and that one of my DCs will be there (not true). If there is an emergency I would need an ambulance anyway but would likely not be unconscious.
It’s not ideal, but the provision for patients who are single is poor and the slightest excuse to refuse is used. I’ve been waiting for my procedure for roughly three years now so I’m taking the opportunity whatever it takes - if it works it will be life-changing.

Twelvetimes · 06/09/2025 22:03

My OH has twice had surgery and I actually had to go onto the ward to collect him, they would not even let him go down to reception to wait for me. So no way would he have got away with 'I'm getting a taxi and someone's waiting at home'. I assume if I hadn't gone in to collect him they would have made him stay in longer.

EmeraldRoulette · 06/09/2025 22:18

I don't know if they do have to cope with it

I haven't exactly had a procedure and been in this situation, but when I had a spinal injury, there were a couple of appointments where they wanted someone to pick me up afterwards. At that stage of life, I did actually have people who would've done it.

But I didn't want to bother them. So I talked to the local taxi firm, who I knew quite well anyway, and they arranged to actually come into the hospital and collect me.

nobody bothered to check who they were or anything.

The only times there has been checks has been when I've collected my elderly parents. I think I might have actually signed a release form or something.

to be honest, mostly I think they're not that bothered. It depends on the procedure of course

However, I will likely have to collect someone myself soon and I actually think she should be kept in overnight for various reasons. But they seem to just boot you out.

I think you'd have to be in a really dreadful state for them to refuse to release you into a taxi. If people can't afford a taxi, then I can see that being more questionable.

Newmum738 · 06/09/2025 22:21

They would provide patient transport for those who can manage and those that can’t would have to stay in.

placemats · 06/09/2025 22:43

Twelvetimes · 06/09/2025 22:03

My OH has twice had surgery and I actually had to go onto the ward to collect him, they would not even let him go down to reception to wait for me. So no way would he have got away with 'I'm getting a taxi and someone's waiting at home'. I assume if I hadn't gone in to collect him they would have made him stay in longer.

Edited

Hospital isn't a prison. You are free to leave at anytime. Unless it's a secure mental health unit.

juldan · 06/09/2025 23:11

I was in that situation several years ago when I had a knee arthroscopy. Normally it is a day procedure but because I had no one to pick me up, it was arranged during the pre op that I would stay overnight. Went home by taxi the next day.

Shinyandnew1 · 06/09/2025 23:12

The patients are not allowed to go by public transport or taxi.

Then, hospital transport would have to be arranged, I suppose.

LemondrizzleShark · 06/09/2025 23:17

We keep ours in overnight in that situation. We would cancel the daycase procedure and rebook as an inpatient admission if we knew the patient had nobody at home. Most of our procedures have a fairly high risk of delayed internal bleeding afterwards though.

BestZebbie · 06/09/2025 23:30

If you were being discharged from a ward they would probably need to keep you an extra day so that you could make your own way home. If you were elderly and infirm and needed releasing to someone who could care for you, but lived alone with no support, you would end up in the social services framework and possibly be admitted to a care home at least briefly (to clear the hospital bed).

If you are being discharged from A&E, ime they just turn you back out into the waiting room and wash their hands of you - In my 20s and 30s I have been 'released to make my own way home' on my own a) with trousers that had been cut up the length of one leg and no money or phone and b) having had fairly strong pupil-dilating eye drops put in unexpectedly which meant I couldn't see where I was going even to cross the road or read bus numbers etc.

EveryKneeShallBow · 07/09/2025 00:01

I’m due to have surgery following which I need to return to the hospital twice a week and I’m not allowed to drive myself. There are no busses to my house. I asked how I’m meant to manage that and they just shrugged. I was told there is no longer any patient transportation available and they cannot help at all.

Greybeardy · 07/09/2025 00:02

It’s not an uncommon scenario - patients stay overnight.

Flossflower · 07/09/2025 00:14

My husband had day surgery and he was told he had to bring someone with him to take him home. I went with him and before the operation forms were signed they checked again that someone could take him home. I suppose it was because they don’t have a lot of spare beds and if you didn’t have someone to take you home the op would not take place.

Friendlygingercat · 07/09/2025 01:33

I had a minor procedure (colonoscopy) with an anaesthetic and was told I had to have someone meet me and stay 24 hours. My nephew met me and accompanied me home in the taxi. After a couple of hours I just felt tired and sent him home, Obviously I could have called or texted if I needed him but I was perfectly ok.

Emori · 07/09/2025 01:40

They don't give a shit and will happily see you go if you want to ime. Only if you clearly absolutely can't manage they'll keep you in. I guess technically you're entitled to home care but you'll be a long time waiting for that.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/09/2025 02:32

My friend who was then about 73 has day surgery, they knew he lived alone but discharged him anyway. I was very surprised.

Briningitallin · 07/09/2025 02:40

i worked on a day case unit. If a patient didn’t have 24 hour care and someone to collect them, we admitted them onto a ward.

We always acted in the best interests of the patient.

Original poster
Aerom · 07/09/2025 07:02

Twelvetimes · 06/09/2025 22:03

My OH has twice had surgery and I actually had to go onto the ward to collect him, they would not even let him go down to reception to wait for me. So no way would he have got away with 'I'm getting a taxi and someone's waiting at home'. I assume if I hadn't gone in to collect him they would have made him stay in longer.

Edited

My aunt saw patients’ OHs, DC etc having to come to the ward like your DH did. She had nobody to pick her up. Her DGD couldn’t as DGGD broke her arm and in another hospital the other side of the city. She had to have emergency surgery.

My aunt said her friend is picking her up but unable to walk far - had to walk a mile from normal car park to the ward! She said she was meeting her in the disabled parking area. Nurse said that’s fine. That thing with the friend was a lie. Got a taxi instead.

I agree that there should be better options for those who have nobody to pick them up - either all the time or those who would usually do, are unavailable for various reasons

OP posts:
Original poster
Aerom · 07/09/2025 07:05

Friendlygingercat · 07/09/2025 01:33

I had a minor procedure (colonoscopy) with an anaesthetic and was told I had to have someone meet me and stay 24 hours. My nephew met me and accompanied me home in the taxi. After a couple of hours I just felt tired and sent him home, Obviously I could have called or texted if I needed him but I was perfectly ok.

Edited

Had 4 colonoscopies myself. Usually came back to my parents for a light meal- fruit! Wholemeal bread!

Then they dropped me back home where I did very little

OP posts:
PersephoneParlormaid · 07/09/2025 07:05

My DH had an op at a private hospital, as an NHS patient, and I had to pick him up. Wouldn’t let him come home in a taxi even though we’d be at home waiting.

upallnightt · 07/09/2025 07:09

Twelvetimes · 06/09/2025 22:03

My OH has twice had surgery and I actually had to go onto the ward to collect him, they would not even let him go down to reception to wait for me. So no way would he have got away with 'I'm getting a taxi and someone's waiting at home'. I assume if I hadn't gone in to collect him they would have made him stay in longer.

Edited

Same here. Uber was a flat no.

ComeTheMoment · 07/09/2025 07:43

I had major eye surgery. Husband collected me from the drop-off/pick-up area outside. Nobody checked.