To be fuming at hospital

[AnxietyLevelMax]

Just a rant really…
my DS 3.5 has had a hydrocele in his testicle since i remember. We were on a waiting list for a surgery for over a year but then his testicle wasnt as swollen and as i know it could go away on its own i have contacted hospital and asked if he can be checked just in case…this resulted in taking him off the waiting list and putting us on a list for a regular appointment, which took months to arrive. We were seen by a doctor eventually who refused need for a scan cause he checked his testicle manually and hydrocele was still there but shifted a bit so it didnt look swollen, and put us again on a waiting list for a surgery…6 months after here we are, at the hospital, met the team, wrist bands on, went through everything with anaesthesiologist..doctor came to check his testicles and decided he cannot see anything, looks like it went away, he will request a scan but wont happen today, in the coming week or so, if the anomalie is still there we will have to go through it again. Hopefully is not so case close but i am fuming. Went through all that! Ridiculous system. We are still waiting for a discharge letter, 1.5hrs after it has been cancelled!

The system is a mess and it’s shot that you and your family have had to go through so much stress.

It sounds like it’s not the decisions made by doctors that have been the problem, it’s the fact that the waiting lists have been so long in between appointments. I hope you get the next scan date soon and all is well.

Whilst I understand your annoyance, surely you wouldn’t want him to go through unnecessary surgery?

Of course, but this should be checked/scanned before the surgery day since i have flagged it, or on the day (today) if they are unsure..imagine to go through it again if the scan shows the hydrocele.

And we of course had to arrange holidays so my husband and I can both be with DS today, my husband had to switch a day and will miss an antenatal appointment (i am pregnant)

Annoying for you, and it also took up an appointment that someone else could have used!
I had a similar problem recently with dental surgery, a family member had to book a day off work as it needed sedation. Its crazy.

I don't understand the problem really. Six months ago a doctor could feel it and confirmed surgery was still necessary. On the day of surgery it was no longer palpable and they didn't want to put your son at risk with unnecessary surgery. Sounds like everybody has done their job.

Not really. Scan should be performed on the day or couple/few days before to be sure? Not to drag us through all that and we still need two appointments- scan, then an appt with a doctor before the decision can be made if we do need a surgery or not. He only checked manually and couldnt find it so obviously didnt want to proceed with a surgery, great. It doesnt mean we dont need it. Waste of time for us and them, in this cases where issue can just disappear scan should be booked before a surgery. We had a pre-op appt last week but it was just with a nurse to fill in some forms and explain to us the whole procedure…same forms and same talks we also had today. Madness

They seem to be able to multiply the number of touch points in any patients journey. They all seem completely oblivious to how incredibly inefficient the system is. Never anyone's fault. Constantly moving people from one list/person to another. And the lists get longer.
I regularly have to see 4 people for a medical condition which needs urgent treatment. 100% of the time it's the 4th person who can administer the treatment. But I will forever have to waste painful time with the first 3 because "that's the system ".

How frustrating. Everyone seems to be able to see the problem, not sure why is it that hard to implement any sort of changes, but i dont work
for nhs so maybe it only looks like that from the outside. Lets hope for some changes finally.

This is very strange because pre-op scans/bloods etc usually happen a few days before the scheduled procedure...
I feel your frustration and your grievances with the system @MsBridie . Sometimes these decisions are made for legitimate reasons (like tirage staff at A&E making sure Drs have a manageable caseload and don't see people for ingrown nails or sniffles which helps everyone to be seen "quicker') which is difficult to see from the outside. It, obviously, doesn't work for every patient but, equally, the staff at the lower end of triage cannot decide to fast-track you against protocol. It is usually above their pay grade and they won't get off scot-free in case of a mistake.