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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get a taxi after surgery?

15 replies

surgeryadvicepls · 21/02/2018 23:16

I’m having a minor procedure under general anaesthetic, as a day case. The surgery is along the lines of removing a skin tag - very minor. The reason it will be removed under general anaesthetic is due to pain. My surgeon said the procedure will be 30 minutes, I can expect to be discharged by 1-2pm. I also won’t need to book any time off work/uni - it’s that minor. It’s on a Friday so I have the weekend to recover from the anaesthetic.

However I’m a 21YO student who doesn’t have anyone to meet/collect me. No family in my current city and they are 200 miles away anyway. My housemates & friends don’t drive/aren’t available, so I was planning on getting a taxi home.

I know I need a responsible adult to look after me for 24 hours, but I live near the hospital and the drive is just 11 minutes according to google. My friends will be home and looking after me. How do hospitals handle discharging day surgery patients, would it be that absurd if I got a taxi home?

OP posts:

gluteustothemaximus · 21/02/2018 23:21

We've just done this.

My DH had a big operation though although daycare too. I don't drive. We've no friends or family so I booked a taxi for him to come home.

Hospital were fine with that. But yes, someone needs to be with you after operation for 24-48 hours.

Hope it goes well x

Original poster

surgeryadvicepls · 21/02/2018 23:25

Thank you I think they may be okay with someone collecting me then getting a taxi together, but I was hoping on just getting a taxi myself

Hope your husband is recovering well!

OP posts:

Madcatter · 21/02/2018 23:25

Have you had your pre op assessment yet. Usually you fill out a bunch of forms including giving the name of your escort/carer so you can flag it then and see what they say.

I've had to stay in before but that's because I don't have anyone to look after me at all. Ideally they'd want you to be taken home by someone but as it's so minor and you've got someone at home to watch you they may be okay with it. If your friends don't drive would one of them be able to come and get you in a taxi if you paid for it?

TheFlis12345 · 21/02/2018 23:27

Check with the hospital, some don't let you leave alone after surgery (I have had 2 minor procedures, one under local and one under sedation, and both times they would only discharge me if I had someone with me).

gluteustothemaximus · 21/02/2018 23:32

The hospital did want me to go up in the taxi, but that wasn't possible with 3 kids and we're not made of money.

Just explain to them that's what has to be done, I'm sure they'll either ring a cab for you or let you do it. Just ask.

Yes, he's recovering well thanks, slowly but surely

GlitterBurps · 21/02/2018 23:42

If it was at my hospital they wouldn’t let you go home by yourself in a taxi post GA, I have seen people postponed for this reason. The reason being a taxi driver can’t be expected to take responsibility for you if you collapse. People escorting patients home after GA daycase have to come to the ward and sign the care plan agreeing to stay with them for 24hours prior to them being discharged. As a PP said, mention this at pre assessment and they may book you a overnight bed or have the facility for hospital transport home. Good luck for your op

ProfessorSprout · 21/02/2018 23:47

There are sometimes local groups who support people like you in transporting to / from hospital. It’s worth googling to see if there is one. Good luck op

Bigpizzalover · 21/02/2018 23:57

I’m having day surgery in 2 weeks and they’ve told me I need someone to either drive me home or someone to collect me from the ward to get in a taxi home and no other forms of public transport eg bus. So I’d double check with your hospital.

FleurDeLizzie · 22/02/2018 00:01

Not absurd at all. I had to stay with my brother for 24 hours after a colonoscopy. And he didn't even have a ga, just sedation. They didn't even want me to drive him home as I would be too busy driving to watch him properly. Had to get a taxi.

VladmirsPoutine · 22/02/2018 00:07

It's not absurd at all. Why would you think it would be. What else would you do?

LegallyBrunet · 22/02/2018 00:08

My OH is a nurse. He said to double check with the ward as on some of the places he's worked you wouldn't have been allowed to leave in a taxi on your own

salakadolamoo · 22/02/2018 00:08

I had surgery under GA about 4 years ago, kept me one night as my temp spiked, next morning after Consultant's round they told me to get up, they needed the bed. Walked (very slowly as it was abdominal surgery!) out of ward and waited outside hospital front door until I could get hold of someone to pick me up. No questions were asked about what or who I was going home to - haven't thought twice about that until now!

TwentySmackeroos · 22/02/2018 00:10

You will be asked for a next of kin/contact person who will be telephoned if needed. Surely one of the friends at home can come to meet you to accompany you during discharge and onwards home? If it’s only 11 mins by taxi, they can’t be that far away..?

S0upertrooper · 22/02/2018 00:53

In the past few months I've had 2 GAs and 1 sedation. It's not the procedure that dictates a chaperone it's the anesthesia. I don't think they will discharge you unacompanied as you need someone to sign they will stay with you for 24hrs. They might put you on a ward overnight. Good luck.

Ollivander84 · 22/02/2018 01:10

I've had two GA and one LA and discharged from all via taxi home, unaccompanied

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