Surgery cancelled again. WIBU to turn up to the hospital regardless?

[Wndof]

I've been waiting over a year for life saving surgery. I was finally given a date for 31st August then they changed the date twice, switching my appointment with somebody else and then telling me they'd made a mistake with dates. Finally, 14th September (so tomorrow) was confirmed and I've undergone all of the pre operative tests and assessments, made arrangements for the children, XP secured the time off work.. only for them to text me just now and say the surgery has been cancelled due to a bed issue.

I called the admissions coordinator who has been absolutely terrible throughout and told him that I plan on turning up tomorrow morning and won't be leaving.

I read on here thats what somebody's father did in the same situation and he got his operation.

WIBU to give it a go?

Sorry if I seem dramatic, I just cannot endure this utter shit any longer 😭

Yes, it's often the quickest route. It shouldn't be like that, but we have to deal with it as it is.

I agree the quickest route to tests and treatment is via A&E. It took 4 years for me to be given an MRI. An alcoholic in the family got pissed, fell over and was given one the same day.

A&E wouldn't be able to do anything for me in this case, it's just frustrating.

Kings declared a critical incident yesterday - all electives cancelled. So sorry.

Does critical incident status tend to go on for a substantial amount of time?

I have worked in A&E and it is a cause of many hospital problems.
People seem to think they can turn up at any time with the most ridiculous complaints including sore throats, back ache they have had for years, when they should be going to their GP. It really is an eye opener and is a huge drain on NHS resources. Mostly it is younger people who can’t be bothered to make an appointment with their GP. Much easier to rock up to A&E at 2200 🙄

In theory it shouldn't do, it's a last resort but sadly it's hard to tell these days. In days gone by when we had a functioning NHS it would allow you to borrow resource and reallocate some stuff until the issue passed, now no one else can support in this way as everyone is screwed so they just have to stand services down. They'll be doing all they can to address it but depends what the issue is; my guess would be staffing.

Tbh as drs we don't really get taught the specifics of what they do to facilitate complaints to resolution. I assume they will act as the go between between surgeons/icu/bookings teams and if necc contact other neuro centres (your closest alternative will be st georges) but unfortunately noone has a magic wand to fix the lack of staffing (and the bed managers are no different, I could never do their job fire fighting constantly and resented by all)

Complete waste of time calling PALS. No answer, just a pre recorded message saying they're receiving very high volume of enquiries.

Can do...pretty much every hospital in winter is at some point in time. I work at another London Trust and we are on red bed status so all elective work is being considered on a case by case basis and many cancelled as we have no space to put a&e emergencies

I'm absolutely dreading winter as never been on red bed state this early in Sept before in my 15y in the nhs

No answer from the consultants PA either. I've left a message for both of them.

My Dad did this when his 'urgent' surgery to have a brain tumour removed was cancelled for the third time and they operated on him. Give it a go.

I've left it too late to go in now. I've eaten already. I am tempted to go onto the site and speak to PALS in person though. The phone message said they operate a walk in service from 9-1pm

I've not known it so busy like it is now for ages. And that's in paediatrics. We are completely full, we really need to cancel elective surgeries, as we have very little movement. But they probably won't!

PALS aren’t there to fix things immediately, they’re there to take complaints or they can resolve some issues, but if you’re hoping they’re going to get you admitted sooner, then that’s not going to happen.

So it would be a waste of time going to speak to PALS in person then? I'm just conscious of the fact they're receiving so many emails it could be weeks before they even see mine.

I just spoke to the admissions coordinator again. He was surprised that I hadn't come in as I said I intended to. Apparently my consultant was fighting my corner through the night but the nurse(?) said there was no way.

An elderly lady due in today has also been cancelled and apparently 30 other people.

He thinks its to do with the strike coming up next week?

Nurses have far more say over beds than a consultant does. If the Nurse in charge or site matron, what ever they are called. Says no, the consultant will not get a bed. They see the bigger picture. The consultant does not.

People with multiple cancellations do get priority, however if an icu bed is needed it's more difficult. As there only needs to be a road accident or other emergency and the allocated bed is gone.

Yes lots of cancellations next week as both a junior doctors and consultants strike. Those patients cancelled will need to get new dates also so more people waiting.

All the people suggesting you email the ‘senior consultant’…consultants have NO power to change this - there are not enough beds full stop and they are not able to wave a magic wand. No one gives a shit about the consultants saying things aren’t safe, that patients are suffering, that lives are at risk. The NHS is completely and utterly broken. (NHS consultant)

At what stage would they look at transferring me to another hospital? I'd travel anywhere needs be at this stage

I can tell you what happens if there’s an emergency admission to icu with no beds. Elective surgery (that includes your surgery and is better described as planned surgery) Is cancelled, As many patients as possible are sent to wards, other hospitals, private hospitals. Patients on life support machines stay in ED or in theatre. Staff work forced overtime, have no breaks, work 18 hours instead of only 12. We pull essential hospital services including retrieval (the service that flies patients to us). When patients die I follow the morgue trolley down the hallway to get the next patient to fill that bed.

We then get complaints. From patients, families, the rest of the hospital, the daily Mail.

Rinse and repeat.

You'd probably go to the bottom of the pile and have to start again. All other hospitals are in the same situation.

MissTrip82, that makes me feel like I may aswell just give up the idea of surgery all together. If things are that bad then just what is the point of having any hope? I don't have any morale left.

OP, don’t give up hope. I can understand how terrified you must be and it is appalling how badly the system has let you down but the most likely outcome is that you will get your op soon. It is absolutely shit to be in your position though and I really feel for you and everyone else that is in the same boat - please know that your medical team are almost certainly as frustrated as you - we all went into medicine to help people and working in a broken system where we can’t do what we feel is best for people due to resources is heartbreaking.