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 😭

It's sadly nothing new. My father needed an urgent operation for pancreatic cancer and was cancelled about seven times meaning he was languishing on a ward for months, as each time it was cancelled, the rescheduled date was 2/3/4 weeks later and he wasn't fit/healthy enough to be discharged. By the time he finally had the op, it was too late and he went onto paliative care, so a complete waste of time overall. That was in 2008! Heaven knows how much worse it will be now.

Is your operation something you could be referred to a private hospital under the NHS? If it is, ask to be referred. Otherwise, ask if there is another hospital where you can be treated quicker.

The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

(1) Be nothing but polite to staff. They are not the ones who did It.

(2) Don't go on and on about it to frontline staff.
"I need lifesaving surgery on my pancreas. It's been scheduled and cancelled several times. I've been scheduled for today then got a last minute cancellation. I've come in and I'm just going to wait with my crossword to see if there are any updates."

They will remember you. You won't be a faceless name on a letter.

The squeeky wheel gets the oil.

(1) Be nothing but polite to staff. They are not the ones who did It.

(2) Don't go on and on about it to frontline staff.
"I need lifesaving surgery on my pancreas. It's been scheduled and cancelled several times. I've been scheduled for today then got a last minute cancellation. I've come in and I'm just going to wait with my crossword to see if there are any updates."

They will remember you. You won't be a faceless name on a letter.

Badbadbunny I'm so sorry for your loss. That is absolutely disgusting. Your father deserved better. The tories have absolutely decimated the NHS and have blood on their hands.

My point was that happened in 2008 at the height of money being thrown at the NHS, so it's not necessarily lack of funds that is the problem with the NHS. Though I accept things are worse now with the NHS being expected to do more and higher population etc.

They try to move the new patient to another hospital with an ICU bed.

If not possible

They would triage the person with the burst aneurysm and all of the other patients in ICU beds already and one would be 'stepped down onto a ward'. They'd still be cared for by ICU staff but on an out reach basis and the care is obviously not constant or as safe.

As this is an elective (although really important) surgery they won't put any patient, including you, in that more risky position because its avoidable by not doing the surgery until an appropriate bed is available.

They're trying to prevent you, or other patients from dying or being harmed from an avoidable risk

I know it's hard as you're desperate for the operation but it really is in your interest.

There are only so many ICU beds in each hospital as they have special kit and much more intensive nursing cover. If you need that post op then it's best to wait until it's available

Nat6999 it's a brain aneurysm, a big one.

I paid to see a neurosurgeon privately earlier in the year as I was left waiting for a long time without knowing when I'd be seen for even a discussion let alone surgery (I had to borrow the £300 it cost. I'm not well off)

I saw him at the Wellington, London. He kindly transferred me to his NHS list. They do have the facilities to do brain surgery at the Wellington now. He was telling me about it during the appointment.

I'm not sure if they could transfer me there for the surgery.. there's a thought.

My DM had hernia surgery at a private hospital through the NHS so it's worth asking!

I met a man in the day surgery waiting room once who told me it was the 4th time he'd had a date for surgery. The previous 3 had been cancelled and when he'd arrived the day I met him he was told his surgery was cancelled again but somehow he hadn't received the message. He told them he wasn't moving until they did his surgery! I don't know if he was successful but he was certainly determined to try.
They were using the day surgery ward for inpatients at the time as DH had arrived for his operation at 7.00am and all the beds were already full of men who'd clearly been there all night.
Another guy on the ward told me his op had been cancelled 3 times - including once having been wheeled to theatre.

Private hospitals don't have the ICU level of care. If their patients have an emergency they get transferred to an NHS hospital

Badbunny said it was 2008 - that was Labour so no point talking about the tories.

I am sorry this happened to you. I think the best person to speak to would be your consultant, they will be furious too, not least because you being cancelled means that their numbers and lists get messed up as well.

Private hospitals don't have the ICU level of care. If their patients have an emergency they get transferred to an NHS hospital

The Wellington has the facilities for brain surgery there and they do use them. I'm assuming they don't do the surgery there and then transfer them from recovery to another hospital?

I can hear your frustration here OP, I'm sorry you're in such a shitty situation. I hope you get your op soon.

I’m so sorry OP, how frustrating. Like other pp I think it would probably end up being more stressful to go into hospital tomorrow but I understand the need to do something, anything. I would keep hassling the consultant’s sec and the coordinator. I really hope you get your surgery soon and wish you the best.

Also, some of the responses here are flippant and annoying. Telling someone who needs life saving surgery to direct her anger at the government is stupid and pointless. She is focused on taking positive action now, which is completely understandable and sensible.

The Wellington has the facilities for brain surgery there and they do use them. I'm assuming they don't do the surgery there and then transfer them from recovery to another hospital?

They do (my dad had major heart surgery there). Same for the Princess Grace which is also part of the HCA group.

OP, have you been assessed for eligibility for the S2 funding route in Europe (NHS pays)?

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/going-abroad-for-treatment/going-abroad-for-medical-treatment/

@Wndof that is just horrific for you. I had massive surgery in Feb and the stress leading up to it is chronic. I cannot even imagine how helpless you feel. I’m really sorry you are going through this and you get your surgery soo

I desperately hope you get your op soon OP I'm sure you're feeling broken hearted after getting that text. I would be.

I was on the phone to my sons new teacher when I got the text. I must have sounded so rude telling her I needed to stop her there as I need to get off the phone straight away, minor in the grand scheme of things but I feel terrible that I've made such a poor first impression.

I'm not familiar with the S2 funding route but will take a look at that right now. Thank you all for the suggestions on how to proceed.

If it’s major surgery, likelihood is you’ll need a HDU/ITU bed.

if there isn’t one, they aren’t going to operate.

ThT would be pointless.

You are more likely to get a result complaining to PALS

I was in hospital and waiting for a scan. I waited almost a week. I asked to go home, with someone there with me 24/7 but was told no, I had to wait on the ward until it could be organised. several times I was told to down and each time it got cancelled for whatever reason. after a week feeling like a total bed blocker, one of the nurses gave me my notes (she probably shouldnt have but hey ho they were all fed up as well) and told me to go downstairs and wait. I went to the unit who kept saying there was no chance and to go away and I sat an waited. it took around 5 hours but they had a no show and did my scan. I could then be discharged the next day.

So yes, do it. It might make sod all difference but undoubtedly you will feel like you have done something same as I did.

And they'll be forced to find you a bed, so OP might get it anyway eh?
Sorry OP nothing to add but this is terrible. If you can in any way afford it I would look into any private options. I know some NHS hospitals have a private wing.

They try to move the new patient to another hospital with an ICU bed.

@HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow's post is excellent and explains the scenario very clearly. The above is what happened to DH when he had life-saving surgery last year. There were no ITU beds available at his normal hospital he needed one-to-one care (ie constant supervision) for 48 hours after the surgery so he was moved to a hospital several hours away from us which shared the same specialism – fortunately our DCs are old enough not to need childcare, which is obviously a complicating factor.