That my surgeon was switched

[AMBE123]

Ok so I recently had to have colo-rectal surgery. The surgeon (I'll call him Dr A) came to see me when I was admitted and explained what they were doing, then the anaesthetist came and introduced himself etc. Happy so far and they took me down for the op an hour later. I was a bit puzzled that the doctor didn't come round after the surgery to explain what they'd done, how it went etc as I thought from past experience that this was a thing, but the nurse read his notes and told me what they said before they sent me home.

So this was a week ago and I have just read the discharge letter and it says that another Dr (Dr B) did the surgery. AIBU to feel like I was misled and they switched on me? I know it's the NHS and there's no guarantee of a particular doctor, but I do feel a bit that if a Dr is going to be up my bum doing nasty things while I'm unconscious, the least he could do is introduce himself first.

(What makes it worse is that the Dr who it turns out did the surgery almost did my signoidoscopy at the previous visit, and I really took against him, which is very very rare for me: he was abrupt; he offered his hand to shake my hand then when I took it his hand was all limp like he didn't want to shake hands, no eye contact etc. I just had a really strong feeling that I didn't want him near me, but in the event another doctor did it that time - but she came and introduced herself first and explained they'd switched)
I feel like I was deceived about who would be doing the surgery. I know what matters is that whoever does it can do a good job, but it just still doesn't sit right with me.
Any medical people here - is this normal practice in the NHS? I lived abroad for a few years so maybe my expectations got skewed..

I'd say it's pretty common unless you go private, sadly.

Agreed it seems weird when it was literally just before!

I think you could probably ask why you ended up with an unexpected doctor.

Not weird at all I presume you spoke to a consultant and one of his regs did the surgery. Common practice where I live.

The consultant surgeon operates often with their juniors (including senior registrars in that definition). Sometimes one of the team does the note. Or; sometimes consultant surgeon 1 calls consultant surgeon 2 in for a second opinion/help mid operation and they do it together. It’s rare but not impossible that another consultant would step in and operate if original consultant had to attend an emergency etc

Not ideal, but Dr A could have had to go and do some emergency surgery on someone else while Dr B took over your surgery. Or Dr B could of been training Dr A.

I’m a surgeon. The consent form does say that there is no guarantee that a certain surgeon will do the op and occasionally there are last minute changes. Unless there was a good reason why I couldn’t I would personally speak to the patient beforehand. In the past I would see every single patient after their op and explain what we had found/ done. These days there is so much paperwork to do and little time between/ after cases that I may not get the chance with minor cases. Sometimes the day case team have discharged them before I finish the final case. It is also possible that the very junior doctor who wrote the discharge letter made a mistake.

The previous posters are right about registrars doing the cases though under consultant supervision. This happens in the large number of cases. Usually as the SpR I will have met the patient too and been present for / done the consent form.

Perhaps an emergency came in and a senior registrar did the surgery,

To be fair I found it a bit disconcerting to have my consultant doing a sigmoidoscopy. I sit down and discuss my bowels with him in his office and I know his business is arses but I don't actually want him poking about up there being all chatty. I would prefer an anonymous professional.

The original Consultant could have been supervising the surgeon who did your surgery.

I had a major operation a few years ago and there was a mix-up at the admin end. I ended up with the surgeon that I'd seen beforehand (it was a complex operation and he was the expert) but later, another surgeon told me he'd been reassigned to another case at the last minute instead of being the second surgeon on mine so it does happen. If it was a successful operation, I'd focus on that tbh - emergencies to happen - and make sure that you see the surgeon you like for follow-up appointments. Some surgeons don't have great people skills but are great at operating but you will want the good people skill one for on-going checks.

As others have said there is never a guarantee on the NHS as to who will carry out the surgery and this is included on consent forms signed beforehand.

I am booked for surgery in the near future and although I might like this to be performed by the Consultant surgeon, most of us have to accept that it is not always so. Hope you have a really good outcome from your treatment👌

It's interesting there is a surgeon on the thread. I wonder if the original surgeon is kept away from patients due to his interpersonal skills.