To want a hospital appt?

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Dd (2) needs a minor surgery.

She had it as a baby, and it now needs re-doing.

Should be no more than half an hour unless anything goes badly wrong.
Realistically, 2 minutes (after paperwork).

We got referred by our gp in April.

Made an appt for may at local big-city hospital. This was canceled as the hospital don't do this procedure.

Got forwarded to Liverpool hospital.

Made an appt for August.

Wasn't impressed with that much waiting, but its not an emergency. This was the first one they had.

A couple of days before hand, they canceled this and sent me an appt for November at 9:00. No way I can get there for 9, as it is 2 hours drive and a bit mean to expect any friends to have ds for that long in the morning.

Phoned up, lovely lady agreed. Found us a cancellation for end of October. 11 o clock. Perfect. Booked it. Half term, so ds can come and we can have a day out.

Got another letter saying this has been canceled. Re-booked for end of November. 8:45.

Phoned up again. Explained I can't get there that early. They had no record of new appt!

They did offer me the first appt at 9:10 one the 6th January next year.

Is it that hard to get an appt?

Still waiting for the physio the poor kid should have had in June too...

Call PALS (Patient Advice & Liasion Service), every NHS Trust has one. This won't be a formal complaint (unless you want it to be) but a very effective way of getting the managers to hear your points. IME PALS often get things sorted quickly to try & avoid these annoyances becoming formal complaints

Yes, compared to my local hospital it is much better value. I am hoping it stays as reasonable when they move.

Ok, I will try PALS in the morning. Google?

The thing we are going for is a tongue tie. I have been told it is just another simple snip, as long as she sits still.

Provided there is no excess bleeding, it is in and out in a few minutes, after all the weights/measures/papers..?

For all the faffing around, I am almost tempted to get some scissors there myself ( frustrated comment! Wouldn't do it! )

My first thought is that there is no way a 2 year old will sit and have a tongue tie snipped. After six months they do it under GA. Unless there's some reasoning behind it, I have never known an older child have it just snipped, and I've been doing my job for years.

I wouldn't be surprised if you have to prepare for an operation anyway, be starved etc, just incase. In which case you'll be in early anyway. I'm really surprised by all of this.

I thought it was done under GA outside of the neonatal period?

I live over an hour away from the hospital I go to. I don't sleep well due to my severe pain and it takes me ages in the morning to get up and get dressed due to my disability.

My hospital appointment last week was 8:50 and the one next week is 9am. I had to get up at 5:45 so I'd be ready to leave at 7:20. I wouldn't dare cancel due to the time because I don't want to wait any longer to see the consultants.

When the kids were younger a neighbour kept an eye on them so I could leave on time.

The op itself is still quick, even under ga. But you'll still have to wait before hand and afterwards for her to recover.

Oh shit!

I only know of one other case ( dd's half brother). He just got snipped.

Will def be contacting pals now! I wanted to ask the ward, but havent managed so far.

I think you will find there is a whole lot more to it than a 'quick snip'.
Apart from paperwork, there is almost guaranteed to be some form of anaesthetic , most likely general.
Most 2 year olds, given the strange surroundings, people, smells, etc wouldn't open their mouth, never mind have someone stick a needle in their mouth for a local then come at them with some form of 'scissors'??
In fact I wouldn't be too keen myself!!!!

The ward is probably just the day surgery ward so even if you got through to them they wouldn't know ins and out (is it k1?)

DS is 5 and needs a minor op on his foot and that is being done under GA even though in an adult if would be local. If they won't operate on the foot of a 5 year old I can't see them doing the mouth of a 2 year old!

And if it is under GA then the ward will have a minimum amount of time you'll have to stay afterwards for her to recover. She will have to eat, drink and do a wee, and be back to her normal self. Then the nurses will send you home.

You need to prepare for being there all day. We always tell people to bring overnight stuff just incase.

It's M1 clinic. Does anybody know what that means?

Dd is fairly used to hospitals ( not Liverpool though), she isn't fazed by blood tests, skin Prick tests, new people...

I know you can't predict how she react on the day.

Even if it does turn out to be an operation not under GA, it might be one under heavy sedation, so your daughter would still need more care than is usual that day and for a day or two after.

There should be details about this in the info they gave you when she was first scheduled - what does it say?

TBH arriving at 11:30 or 9 doesn't sound that different to me for a one-off.

The original letter said

Thank you for using choose and book for dd.

Your appt has been made for 5th August, 11:00.

In "mr foreign name" clinic, M1

Please be aware car parking charges apply. Please don't park in the road.

If your child still uses a red book, please bring it.

Yes, they said please!

That sounds more like an appointment for a clinic for them to see her rather than for a procedure to take place.

Agree, if it was an operation they'd give you starving instructions etc, even if it's a local anaesthetic. They'll always prepare you for a ga.

Have you actually seen anyone at this hospital? I know you were referred from your local, but to me that sounds like a clinic appointment before they decide if you need surgery.