Page 4 | AIBU to be annoyed after my operation was cancelled at hospital?

TheOpalFox · 2026-05-01T10:48:33+00:00

Would you be annoyed if you travelled an hour to go to your operation… and you had the gown on and socks and they cancelled ???????? Due to staff issues. ? :(

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 13:50

Sqqash · 04/05/2026 13:40

Every time there’s a thread ranting about someone daring to come to work sick so many people say it should be some sort of rule that if you’re sick in ANY WAY whatsoever you must stay home. Whether that’s a mild sore throat, cough you’ve had for 3 months already, runny nose etc etc. Nope you absolutely MUST call in sick because NO ONE WANTS YOUR GERMS! Oh and don’t forget you can’t send children to school with any of these symptoms either so parents need to take time off to look after them for the above. Oh and people need to be allowed time off if they haven’t slept well. Need a “mental health day”. Get signed off sick for weeks or months if a pet dies or any relative at all even if you weren’t that close to them.

Ive asked on many of these types of threads what are hospitals etc supposed to do when half their staff called in sick. Everyone replies with “well they just need to organise cover” as if it’s that easy. There aren’t hundreds of doctors and nurses all just sitting at home waiting to be called to cover for two to four weeks because someone’s child has woken up with a mild sore throat which will likely just be a mild cold but they now need to stay home for the entire time. Even better if they then catch it as well so now that Doctor has been off for 6 weeks even though they could easily have worked through it.

I dont expect ppl to go in sick What i DO expect is nuance when the NHS is complaining about patients who havent turned up for their procedures. When they give out these figures the public should be told the full picture How many of those patients were facing their second third or even fourth attempt at getting their procedure. done. And either just couldnt afford to go in yet again because it was a choice between that or the gas bill/food shop. So they dont. Maybe someone should make a FOI request

Greybeardy · 04/05/2026 14:02

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 13:50

I dont expect ppl to go in sick What i DO expect is nuance when the NHS is complaining about patients who havent turned up for their procedures. When they give out these figures the public should be told the full picture How many of those patients were facing their second third or even fourth attempt at getting their procedure. done. And either just couldnt afford to go in yet again because it was a choice between that or the gas bill/food shop. So they dont. Maybe someone should make a FOI request

Show quote history

if patients flag up those sorts of concerns hospitals can often put them in touch with resources to get support (eg. if it's literally that they can't afford a train/bus/taxi then there are often charity groups that can do pick up/drop offs or PTS may have availability). It's harder to help with things that we don't know about.

AllyMacbealmyarse · 04/05/2026 14:14

LordofMisrule1 · 01/05/2026 12:22

YANBU. That's genuinely shocking. What a rude, and disrespectful waste of a person's time. As though your time is less valuable than theirs. Not to mention the emotional/psychological stress of gearing yourself up for surgery, not eating, getting time off work, finding someone to take you home and keep an eye on you, only to then find it was all for nothing. And still you're left with the thing that you needed sorting! And I say this as someone working in the NHS that well understands the challenges we are facing re resources, staffing, etc.

I would urge you to write and make a formal complaint OP, to make your voice heard. It's honestly a disgrace that something like this can happen. You should speak up.

Read the post immediately above yours then try again. Lest Hope you never need an emergency op.

OvertiredAndEmotional · 04/05/2026 14:26

This happened to my BIL five times. Over two years. Finally had the op and got sepsis and has been in hospital for a month.

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 14:35

OvertiredAndEmotional · 04/05/2026 14:26

This happened to my BIL five times. Over two years. Finally had the op and got sepsis and has been in hospital for a month.

I hope he recovers soon

CelticSilver · 04/05/2026 14:37

I was gowned up waiting for an operation and the surgeon came in breathless and blood-spattered and said there had been an issue with the previous patient, and could I come back in 48hrs?

Presumably to give him enough time to hide the body ...

neilyoungismyhero · 04/05/2026 15:42

Happened to my husband. We checked before we left home. He was in his gown in the bed and was told it was cancelled. He wasn't happy either.

Notmeagain12 · 04/05/2026 16:13

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 13:50

I dont expect ppl to go in sick What i DO expect is nuance when the NHS is complaining about patients who havent turned up for their procedures. When they give out these figures the public should be told the full picture How many of those patients were facing their second third or even fourth attempt at getting their procedure. done. And either just couldnt afford to go in yet again because it was a choice between that or the gas bill/food shop. So they dont. Maybe someone should make a FOI request

Show quote history

Most people have phones and can use them to phone the relevant secretary to inform them of their non attendance.

at least then the next on the waiting list will get seen, instead of nobody.

JohnTheRevelator · 04/05/2026 16:23

So sorry to hear this OP. I'd be absolutely gutted and fuming if this happened to me. I'm waiting for a hip replacement operation and I'm dreading something similar happening to me. After the way they've pissed me about with my consultant appointments (cancelled and rescheduled 4 times) I wouldn't be surprised at anything to be honest.

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 19:05

Notmeagain12 · 04/05/2026 16:13

Most people have phones and can use them to phone the relevant secretary to inform them of their non attendance.

at least then the next on the waiting list will get seen, instead of nobody.

Edited

Show quote history

"im not coming in because i cant face going through this a fourth time and my job is at risk if i take any more time off" will go on their records i assume.

Notmeagain12 · 04/05/2026 19:10

JenniferBooth · 04/05/2026 19:05

"im not coming in because i cant face going through this a fourth time and my job is at risk if i take any more time off" will go on their records i assume.

Show quote history

By “go on their records” do you mean the relevant department will take note and realise this poor person is absolutely struggling with repeated cancellations? And appreciate the call so they can rearrrange their lists and get someone else off the wait list?

because a no show and wasting everyone’s time is what will get you blacklisted. Not a call with a reason as to why you can’t make the appointment, that being the NHS’s fault.

Owninterpreter · 04/05/2026 19:17

I went in for routine day surgery which was supposed to take 30 to 45 mins plus recovery. I was still in theatre 4 hours later. Not sure what happened to the people who were after me on the list

But i assume this wasn't described as staffing issues which does make it sound like flakey staff which im sure not what was meant

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 19:18

Sorry @TheOpalFox 😞 xx

Nearly50omg · 04/05/2026 19:18

If there an emergency then they take priority over scheduled ops

namechangingeasy · 04/05/2026 19:35

Not unreasonable to be frustrated or upset even while understanding that it may be staff illness etc. I’ve been very lucky and only had one surgery postponed and was at home. Given that one was a series of I think 6 operations over a year I was fortunate, but it still felt bad as just
got ready.

my mother then a doctor would have cancelled her clinic or part of it to be with me. (I was an adult but it was serious)

The only thing that can be done for a few types of treatment is have centres that deal only with lower risk planned surgery such as cataract or hip replacement. The NHS does some of it and it works according this Health Foundation report It would not completely solve things as there might be complications in the patient before you but it would help with waiting lists.

AhMh67 · 05/05/2026 07:35

No life happens. I travelled 2 hours then in hospital 4 hours then operation cancelled then 2 hours home it happens

ButterYellowHair · 05/05/2026 07:41

Happens all the time tbh. Surgeries are often up in the air - the surgery before may have gone on too long leaving some staff over their safe working hours, sickness may have happened (you really don’t want someone unwell operating on you), an emergency surgery may have co-opted some of the surgical staff or the theatre. Etc etc.

Natsku · 05/05/2026 07:50

incredibly frustrating I know but it happens. Not just nhs either, in my country too. Years ago I was in hospital waiting for an urgent surgery and it kept getting cancelled because more urgent cases took all the emergency slots. So every night I'd be nil by mouth, wait most of the day nil by mouth then they'd tell me it wasn't happening today and I'd eat supper then nil by mouth again.

TeenLifeMum · 05/05/2026 07:53

We had noro go through the hospital week before last and staffing was a nightmare (add on bank holiday so annual leave bookings will be high). It does suck for patients. I think staff are so used to it they don’t think about the wider impact and logistics people go through. Sending love op. Hope they rearrange very soon.

TeenLifeMum · 05/05/2026 07:55

Nearly50omg · 04/05/2026 19:18

If there an emergency then they take priority over scheduled ops

These are usually totally different teams and theatres that they use. More likely sickness in staff. If the surgeon is ill then they can’t operate but similarly there needs to be enough staff to support and enough beds to accommodate post op.

LakieLady · 05/05/2026 09:45

LordofMisrule1 · 01/05/2026 12:30

I'm not saying individual staff believe this, but the system clearly treats people in this manner. It shouldn't be happening in a functional healthcare system. These aren't unexpected situations where waves of trauma cases sweep into a hospital that isn't prepared. These are planned surgeries patients have been given appointments for. A functional system should be able to ensure the operations they've initiated can go ahead in all but the most extreme/rare situations.

Show quote history

The only way to ensure that planned surgery can always go ahead as planned would be to have sufficient spare capacity to deal with emergencies that arise. It would be very costly to have surgical teams waiting around and operating theatres left empty "just in case".

BIossomtoes · 05/05/2026 09:54

TeenLifeMum · 05/05/2026 07:55

These are usually totally different teams and theatres that they use. More likely sickness in staff. If the surgeon is ill then they can’t operate but similarly there needs to be enough staff to support and enough beds to accommodate post op.

Show quote history

They’re not different theatres and staff at all - do you seriously think there are duplicate theatres and staff just sitting around waiting for emergencies to appear?

If there’s an emergency or surgery over runs then it will impact on other elective surgery. My bloke had surgery a couple of weeks ago, he was supposed to be in theatre for an hour, it ended up being two and a half hours - I have no doubt someone else’s was cancelled as a result.

Greybeardy · 05/05/2026 10:20

BIossomtoes · 05/05/2026 09:54

They’re not different theatres and staff at all - do you seriously think there are duplicate theatres and staff just sitting around waiting for emergencies to appear?

If there’s an emergency or surgery over runs then it will impact on other elective surgery. My bloke had surgery a couple of weeks ago, he was supposed to be in theatre for an hour, it ended up being two and a half hours - I have no doubt someone else’s was cancelled as a result.

Show quote history

Yes there are. Most often emergencies will go into the emergencies theatres (no one’s sitting around waiting….they will be doing the emergency cases as the come in). Occasionally though that still isn’t enough or a particular person’s skill set is needed and then that may impact an elective list.

Notmeagain12 · 05/05/2026 10:29

Greybeardy · 05/05/2026 10:20

Yes there are. Most often emergencies will go into the emergencies theatres (no one’s sitting around waiting….they will be doing the emergency cases as the come in). Occasionally though that still isn’t enough or a particular person’s skill set is needed and then that may impact an elective list.

Show quote history

When I had my elective section it was definitely only one theatre and one team.

i know because my first emergency section was in the same theatre, with the same anaesthetist and midwife as my elective 2 years later.

brought it up with the team and yes, all sections in working hours done by the same team on the L&D ward. Out of hours emergencies went to general theatres and the on call team, but obviously no bumping routine procedures at that time of night.

we were warned that we were 1st in the list so should go down at 9am, but to be prepared for there to be a delay or even a postponement if an emergency came in. Even my elective though there was an issue with the spinal and it took nearly an hour to site, so that will have delayed everyone behind me.

Greybeardy · 05/05/2026 10:31

Notmeagain12 · 05/05/2026 10:29

When I had my elective section it was definitely only one theatre and one team.

i know because my first emergency section was in the same theatre, with the same anaesthetist and midwife as my elective 2 years later.

brought it up with the team and yes, all sections in working hours done by the same team on the L&D ward. Out of hours emergencies went to general theatres and the on call team, but obviously no bumping routine procedures at that time of night.

we were warned that we were 1st in the list so should go down at 9am, but to be prepared for there to be a delay or even a postponement if an emergency came in. Even my elective though there was an issue with the spinal and it took nearly an hour to site, so that will have delayed everyone behind me.

Show quote history

The current standard is that elective and emergency sections should routinely be staffed separately - there are still some places unable to achieve that but it shouldn’t be common now. Sections and the entire rest of the hospital are different.