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.

That seems off. You should've been on a bed immediately afterwards while you regain full alertness. Obviously not for several hours just because your lift hadn't come but at least half an hour or so.
If the NHS hospitals can do that I don't see why a private one can't!

I have regular colonoscopies and I'm always returned to the recovery bay on a bed, where I stay until fully alert and recovered. Nurses come and check periodically, and ensure I have someone to collect me and stay with me for 24 hours. This is Nhs. I've never been treated like that OP. I'd never expect that from private health care!

Having had several colonoscopys I've never been able to get anything other than a chair and straight home with my lift 40 minutes later.... even with all my other ailments. Its out of theatre get changed and out

Think you should have spoken up at the time, perhaps ask for an armchair or even a wheelchair to sit in, seems bit late now ..

Have you ever had a sedation? Just asking, because I'm pretty sure thinking straight after one isn't on the menu.

Yes thank you, been a casualty nurse 12 years, no patient still under any form of sedation would be left unable to sit on a chair, and checked fully awake and alert, also quite capable of asking for armchair, patients are monitored for awareness long before being moved,..I’ve never known a patient being sat waiting who wasn’t comfortable or capable, but complaints are better followed up with staff at the time. Seems to me this patient hadn’t arranged suitable pick up times.

Exactly the same experience I get. Op must be lucky to even get bed rest . I’ve only had that as an inpatient.

I have epilepsy I've been left in Emergency after seizures because they didn't have a bed it doesn't matter the problem they can't just click thier fingers and magic up a empty bed

If you're fully "capable", why do you need picking up after sedation? 😒 I can see why OP didn't complain at the time! I'd expect more understanding from a nurse about that.

And I’d expect someone to be capable of reading the reply correctly!!

TBH I'm surprised you get sedation for your colonoscopies, I know several people who have had them- none of them had sedation.
I think if you are complaining about a mild amount of discomfort after a medical procedure you are very lucky that you have never experienced this before- discomfort is ,obviously, to be expected following a medical procedure.

Oh go away

You are somewhat right, and somewhat misguided.

I have regular colonoscopies and use very nice private hospitals (the type that also does complex surgeries, just not immediate trauma). I have mine done with GA. Prior, in a little room with a chair only, where get into gown, hairnet, theatre booties. Then, when my number is close to next, walk down, hop on bed in OT pre-room for all of 5mins while anaesthetist inserts a cannula, then into theatre.

As GA, wake up in a bed in recovery, and as soon as eyes are open (with much prompting if you are not quick about it), your bed is wheeled at top speed back to room with a chair and you are turfed off it to eat sandwich, cup of tea and told pretty much exact minute they want you picked up.

So, my top private experiences are pretty much the same except realistically my chair was a bit more padded and I’m not in a public corridor.

As an aside, a top private I went to for major surgery, wasn’t a bed until transfer to ward. I went from chair in room, to chair in OT pre-room and then had to walk into OT and basically climb up on the operating table, which was interesting as very short so had to get them to lower it as was like Mt Everest. Was fine. Room afterwards in ward was excellent though, as was food😁.

I also worked on the other side as a clinician for decades and the vast majority of people confuse hospitals and hotels with the facilities given the complaints I have heard. A lot of people feel it’s an outrage that the facilities are not the same 🤷‍♀️. Also, everyone hates hard chairs 😆, but they are optimal from a timely turnover hygiene/infection control perspective.

Apologies, I cannot read in a morning!!

Are you having a laugh?🤣

Are you really comparing the ability to sit ona chair or to ask for a more comfortable chair to the ability to drive??

The ability to think straight and complain in the moment, however I did misread PP and apologise!

Ha ha that resonates!

I complained about the fact that I couldn't control the underfloor heating (to turn it off) and the lack of air conditioning in the room at the local Nuffield. (hotter than hell and I couldn't even wet a cold flannel to cool down as the cold tap was running warm!)

I was still post anaesthetic and I don't think I was thinking straight!

That’s quite an ignorant reply OP! Even if they are in hospital twice a month for bloods you don’t know what those bloods are for. They might be there for treatment twice a month for something quite serious.

Speak for yourself, I do. This is not just about a bed or even recovery. Colonoscopy is a procedure that carries risks, its invasive and under sedation. I walked out of the NHS in 2006 from a NP gastro role due to the fact people were dying unnecessarily. Unless technology has removed those risks now, patients do need to be observed for signs of complications, adverse effects of sedation etc and maybe, just maybe we are allowed to consider their own comfort and wellbeing in being able to rest, deal with the wind and discomfort and god forbid, speak to the doctor once recovered to alleviate anxiety and waiting for the initial impression. Fuck me I was right. The NHS is vile and it has created a society of non expert judges who delight in minimising all aspects of the NHS chronic failures and negligence in all aspects of patient safety and care.

Every hospital is completely different how they do things i think 40 minutes is enough time for most people after light sedation did you tell them you didn't feel well?

Its not light sedation. Either Midazolam or Fentanyl are not light.

The amount they give is small as its a short procedure. Its significantly different to when people are having 12 hour surgeries. I have had 100s of surgeries and procedures across multiple hospitals and multiple trusts and how they do things is completely different in every single one. If op felt unwell she needs to speak up but the majority of people will be fine with after 40 minutes of rest after a colonoscopy.

Yes thank you I do understand. However it is not that small and no legal action would stand up to a 40 minute discharge in the event of adverse events. I dont think 5mg Midazolam is light. Its a hell of a lot more than people use for rape.

It doesnt make you a doctor. Not taking medical advice from someone who thinks they know about medicine from being unhealthy. I will stick to my degree and masters in clinical practice thanks. 🙄

Which is why when you choose to have sedation you need a responsible adult to be with you for 24hrs, that responsible adult doesn't need to be a dr or a nurse