Would you make a complaint to the hospital.....

[Silvercoconut]

I have regular colonoscopies due to ulcerative colitis, for reasons of waiting lists this time it was outsourced to a local private hospital and not my usual.

I also have rheumatoid arthritis and pretty severe spinal stenosis, the hospital was totally aware of these conditions, so somewhat relevant.

I had previously informed them that I wasn't able to be collected till approx 5pm, they said that was ok, colonoscopy was at about 11.45 am.

Had the colonoscopy with sedation, as I always do, and to my horror after approx 40 mins in recovery I was escorted to a hard chair in the corridor to wait for my lift. Previously I've always gone back to the bed on the day ward, so was surprised.

Bear in mind I was still woozy from the sedation, extremely uncomfortable with my back issues, found myself drifting off back to sleep upright and twice nearly fell off the chair. They of course insisted that I had to remain until my lift arrived, so I sat there for three and a half hours at which point I got totally fed up and told them I was going to call myself a taxi home whether they liked it or not, so I signed the relevant forms and off I went.
Totally unbothered as to whether there would be somebody at home.

I'm really actually quite angry about the treatment after and don't feel it was up to standard.

I'd complain using PALS. I have a neurological disorder and had a colonoscopy in a private hospital via the NHS. I recovered in a bed. I wasn't allowed to get out of bed and sit in a chair until I'd been checked by a nurse.

I'm in hospital twice a month. Anyone requiring a lift is to wait in the hallways. Beds are for inpatients. If you're not an inpatient then transport and wait times are for you to accommodate. If this is isn't your normal experience then I think that's bizarre but I can see why it would be upsetting. I'd love a bed every time waiting for my lift home

I'm in hospital twice a month. Anyone requiring a lift is to wait in the hallways. Beds are for inpatients. If you're not an inpatient then transport and wait times are for you to accommodate. If this is isn't your normal experience then I think that's bizarre but I can see why it would be upsetting. I'd love a bed every time waiting for my lift home

Afew weeks ago, after having surgery straight from A&E, (2 hours after seeing a Doctor)
I was sedated with a general anaestetic and have other medical issues, while in the recovery room, 20 minutes after i woke up, where i woke up choking on the tube down my throat and needed oxygen for a short while, they had no bed on the surgical ward to transfer me to, and tried to discharge me from the recovery unit 🤣

I told them i needed a 8 hour drip which was discussed & agreed with the surgeons before surgery, so.couldnt leave.

I ended up staying over night and into the next evening due to complications tin the end, but what is the point of complaining, nothing will happen. The NHS is on its knees

I think a lot of people are missing what the OP is saying. She would have been OK to sit in a chair later whilst waiting for her lift (not ideal given her health conditions but acceptable), but there was no bed available post-procedure.

Given she's had sedation, I think that yes, it is worthy of complaint actually. I worked in theatres for years and anyone who was sedated always recovered in a bed or trolley. Far safer and more comfortable.

But you didnt ask or tell them about the bed, you assumed it would he there.

But this wasnt the same process you usually have, you went somewhere else and they have a different process.

You need to advocate for yourself all the time. Repeat your needs over and over. I get its exhausting, I have RA and UC as well as other medical conditions for life so I get it, but if we dont say what we need, we font get what we need. And while It would be great if they could be kinder and preempt your needs, thats just not the real world.

Beds are not only only for inpatients, there is such a thing as a DAY WARD for day patients. What are you in hospital for, bloods?🤣

That's actually rather funny🤣

I'll give you a brief rundown of my conditions if you like.
Rheumatoid arthritis, severe spinal stenosis,(waiting on surgery) fibromyalgia ,extensive osteoarthritis, and I am waiting on a very probable diagnosis of late onset multiple sclerosis, I'm under the care of a gastroenterologist, a rheumatologist, a cardiologist, an orthopaedic surgeon and neurology.

Yes, I I'm extremely grateful. Extremely.
But I still don't feel I should have been left sitting upright on a hard chair, in a public corridor whilst not completely recovered from sedation.
I cannot believe it is standard procedure.
I have had 12 monthly/18 monthly colonoscopies for 12 years now and this is the first time ever I have not had a bed for a few hours to recover.

To be fair I imagine they needed the bed when I had day surgery for cervical cancer I got a few hours in a bed then yes went to the waiting room they would have had other appointments on the way that needed the bed

I have UC too and have a colonoscopy once a year always with full sedation. I’m always given about 30 mins after the procedure once I’ve woken up to get changed and wake up a bit and then I’m asked to wait on the chairs in the discharge bir for a lift. I’ve only been kept on a bed when I’ve been an in patient,

OP not being able to get a lift for hours isn't the hospitals fault?

Of course you got that at a private hospital 🤷 OP used the NHS so public hospital not a hotel

No, it was outsourced to a private hospital

Were you in a bed for the 40mins in recovery? This would seem fairly typical to me. You would then be considered discharged.
When they say it is fine for you to plan a ride for later in the day it doesn’t mean that they are a hotel and have to give you a bed for the whole time.

It was a private hospital. They don't 'need' beds in the same way.

Op I think that you should have asked for somewhere comfortable to wait.

I had an hour of perineal surgery in my local private hospital. It was in the outpatient theatre. I checked in, into theatre were I got changed behind a curtain in the corner. An hour with my legs in stirrups and surgery with many stitches. Then clothes on and onto plastic chair to wait for husband.

If I'd asked for somewhere comfy to wait I'm sure they would have found something.

What did they say when you asked? I've never heard of a day ward. When I go into private (and I've been in two different local hospitals in the last few years for day surgery and over night recovery) it's just one long corridor of rooms.

My partner just had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy this morning, under a general. He was in and out in about 2.5 hours.

When I collected him he was in a recliner in the recovery area, a hard chair in the corridor does sound quite rough.

but that’s not for her to dictate, she doesn’t know the bed number - I do read

@Missey85 please see the op's words noted beliw:
I have regular colonoscopies due to ulcerative colitis, for reasons of waiting lists this time it was outsourced to a local private hospital and not my usual.

Did you miss the part where OP had an actual medical procedure with heavy medication to make her sedated or are you just trying to be rude?

OP I would absolutely expect a bed as a day patient who had had sedation EXPECIALLY with you having had a bed at that hospital before and also not being informed when choosing sedation that you would have no recovery time? That is awful! I would complain. You were not given the opportunity to make an informed decision or plans for getting home quicker.

i think due to your spinal stenosis you should request a bed following the procedure
are you due to have another procedure?

The OP had had sedation.

My personal experience op is that you’ve done really well to be kept in bed that long previously.

I had gallbladder removal surgery and others had different procedures on the ward, we were all given minimal recovery time (less than 2 hours) and told to get up and get dressed and call someone to collect us as soon as we had eaten something and gone to the toilet. Patients did struggle with it but they needed people off the ward.

If you were fit for discharge and it was your travel arrangement home then I’d say it’s your own accountability. Once you’re deemed fit for home then the delay is your making.

Yes, I think the key here is that they didn’t take into account your other health conditions. You in particular should not have been left on a chair.

I have regular colonoscopies. I have never been taken to a day ward. The same bed I was on for the colonoscopy is taken to the recovery area, they bring some tea and biscuits and after 45 mins or so, I go and take a seat in the waiting for collection area.

Presumably you had that recovery bit? As it sounds like they took you straight from the colonoscopy room to the waiting area which surely can’t be right.