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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU For expecting more of a Private Hospital

104 replies

charliebear78 · 27/07/2017 17:16

Ok,So I went in for a NHS Procedure yesterday-I was given the option of three local Hospitals to go to,One of these was a Private Hospital-so I thought it would be "better" plus this particular Hospital could do the procedure sooner than the others,so great I thought, and chose that one.
I arrived on time and was quickly ushered through to my own en suite room and given a menu to chose what I wanted to eat afterwards-The Room was quite grotty with really old wooden furniture, The room was quite depressing and I was feeling nervous about the procedure(colonoscopy)
The curtains were drawn so I thought "lets open them and get some light in here,that will cheer me up a bit"
The window was all boarded up.
I then sat in that depressing windowless room for 3.5 hours until I was taken down to theatre!
The actual Colonoscopy took half an hour-afterwards I was given a cheese and ham toastie and a pot of tea-with a napkin!!!!
My Mum had the same thing done a month before at our local NHS Hospital and was in and out in the time I spent just waiting!!!!
I really cannot get over the wait time.Why did I need to go there just to wait for so long?
No one said sorry about the wait.
Just wanted to vent really.
I was already feeling nervous and worried and the time waiting on my own really got to me.
Thankfully all was ok.
Is this the norm for some Hospitals?!! I have NEVER had to wait so long before.
Do people pay for this? or is it because I am an NHS patient using their Hospital?

OP posts:

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 27/07/2017 17:18

because I am an NHS patient using their Hospital?

This I suspect

Pengggwn · 27/07/2017 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ilovecoleslaw · 27/07/2017 17:20

Most likely because you are an NHS patient

Ilovecoleslaw · 27/07/2017 17:21

Peng op didn't pay for private healthcare

Original poster

charliebear78 · 27/07/2017 17:22

No I did not pay.I was given three choices of Hospital to go to.
I chose the Private one but it was all done through the NHS.
AIBU to not expect to wait over 3 hours to be seen?

OP posts:

AngeloftheSouth84 · 27/07/2017 17:23

But you were having NHS services provided to you. If you want private treatment, you need to pay with private money, not public money.

Bobbiepin · 27/07/2017 17:23

Doctors and nurses will not keep you waiting just because. You have no idea what is going on in the rest of the hospital. I would imagine either the procedure room or the staff involved in the procedure were held up with another patient. Medicine is not an exact science. As long as everything was clean and you were treated with professionalism and respect then you have nothing really to complain about.

TwitterQueen1 · 27/07/2017 17:26

Do calm down OP!

I suspect the wait was because there were more urgent cases than yours, or a previous op ran over. You sound very entitled.

And what is wrong with a cheese and ham toastie and a cup of tea?

I am currently recovering from a major op, carried out privately, which took place in an NHS hospital. The only difference in going private was an ensuite bathroom (which I couldn't make use of because of catheter).

LawrenceSMarlow · 27/07/2017 17:26

It could have been anything. Unexpected delays with patients before you on the list. A staff member unexpectedly detained. Something awry with your paperwork. I doubt it was because you weren't paying them directly, they will still get paid for doing your procedure.

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/07/2017 17:30

Think yourself lucky - friend's dad went in for an op yesterday (NHS) Told to get there for 7am as was on the monring list. Had op at 5.30pm in the evening. Sat in a cubicle not a separate room!

A1Sharon · 27/07/2017 17:31

I have never, ever, seen a private patient being treated differently in this way, ever.
Its just the way the hospital operate.
The NHS one was probably a DPU, so in and out, but I guarantee there can be delays with any of these lists.
3.5 hrs sounds like a normal wait for most people tbh.

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/07/2017 17:31

when son had grommets inserted privately he had a ham sandwich and a drink too. What were you expecting by way of food? A 3 course meal!

CaptainHammer · 27/07/2017 17:32

Yabu. Agree with twitterqueen

It's not fun having to wait but emergencies take priority.
You had your own room, not to your taste but at least it was yours with your own en suite. 3 hours isn't that long to wait! My mum had an operation (through NHS but at a private hospital) which was supposed to be done at 8am, unfortunately due to emergencies etc it had to wait until 3.30pm. Yes it's horrible waiting but at least it was done that day.

A1Sharon · 27/07/2017 17:33

I forgot to mention that I am a nurse!

PersianCatLady · 27/07/2017 17:33

I suspect the wait was because there were more urgent cases than yours, or a previous op ran over. You sound very entitled
This x 100

I read the OP as thinking that she would get the "full private hospital experience" and that is why she chose the private hospital.

TBH it just seems as if she expected all whistles and bells and has forgotten that she got her treatment and she got it more quickly than she would have done otherwise.

Honestly how ungrateful can you get??

terrylene · 27/07/2017 17:35

I took DH into a private hospital for a biopsy. He had a long wait, I 'borrowed' the times from the reception for something to do coz I forgot a book. I ate some of his lunch with him as there were no facilities for hangers on ( I found loads of tea and coffee diy facilities after a walk though) and nowhere to drive to and I would have lost my parking space anyway. Then we waited ages for someone to tell him when it was safe to go home, because it was an unusual procedure and everyone though it was someone else's job. Then I had to drive him home in the dark and the rush hour traffic.

Not my best experience, but it is a hospital like any other with busy people, and DH is still alive .

Londonyardwork · 27/07/2017 17:35

Some private hospitals do look a bit old fashioned. Well compared to some large NHS Hospitals. Im a private patient and have used both the NHS and Private Hospitals recently. They are very much the same with regards to treatment quality.

HotNatured · 27/07/2017 17:37

OP what did you expect, the honeymoon suite and post op lobster and champagne? I've got private healthcare. The primary reason people pay for this this luxury is to bypass waiting lists. You will often be seen by NHS consultants who also practice privately, and some private hospitals are aesthetically v average. The boarded up window sounds particularly grim tho.

Some private hospitals are gold standard (London Bridge Hospital, etc) but many, more so out of London in my experience, are pretty much indistinguishable from NHS clinics.

Original poster

charliebear78 · 27/07/2017 17:39

I am not ungrateful just shocked about the wait.
I was very nervous so didn't handle the wait very well.
I was not making fun of the food in any way so do not know where some of you got that idea.
I just wanted to know if the wait seems reasonable?
It appears so.
I Didn't know WHAT to expect which is why I am asking.like I said my mum was seen and done with within the time I was waiting so that is what made me wonder.

OP posts:

OhYouBadBadKitten · 27/07/2017 17:41

I think the op must be pulling our leg or must be displacing anxiety to be moaning about a long wait on the day and a toastie. If you aren't op, if that's the worst you've experienced under current funding levels then you are fortunate. I'm sorry you need the colonoscopy and I hope it gives you the all clear though.

Enchantedflamingo · 27/07/2017 17:43

Oh for goodness sake. Yes YABU

OhYouBadBadKitten · 27/07/2017 17:43

For a procedure I had done recently I had a wait of a few hours in a cubicle I then had to wait much longer than expected after to recover. I was given some biscuits and tea after, but that was it after missing breakfast and lunch. The staff were lovely but cuts.....

Original poster

charliebear78 · 27/07/2017 17:46

I guess I was just expecting something similar in terms of wait times which my mum had,Never had to wait so long before so was surprised is all.
If this is the norm I stand corrected,thats all I wanted to know.
I am not an entitled brat-just someone who was scared stiff-but grateful for sure I got the procedure done and all was ok.

OP posts:

Womble75 · 27/07/2017 17:47

When I had my colonoscopy on NHS I waited for bloody ages - I was only 22 and all the "oldies" went first. I didn't mind. Read a book. I guess that the fasting and vile potion that cleans you out, meant they were priority so they could eat and drink again.
I've nothing but praise for NHS so a few hours wait didn't phase me. You were lucky to get something to eat! I had a cup of dishwater tea and a £6 parking charge!

Witsender · 27/07/2017 17:48

TBH you had your own room, didn't wait very long and then got brought food and drink...what were you expecting?

By mentioning the food and drink you seem to be making a point about it...I'm just not sure what that point is.

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