PLEASE HELP! What would you do?

[dazedandconfused2016]

Hi - I have to have a uterine polyp removed but am due to do so at a hospital that was on the news the other night as being the worst in London, where patients are "at risk". (it's the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Woolwich - not enough staff, hygiene levels unsatisfactory, highest rate of hospital infections etc).

Would you get referred to another hospital and wait longer to go through the referral process again or would you risk the procedure - which takes 15 min under general anaesthetic?

I'm on the 2-week wait cancer referral path and if the polyp is cancerous it would delay my treatment if I were to get re-referred elsewhere.

What would you do? Thanks for reading.

I would go through with it personally. One of our local hospitals is struggling with bad press at the moment with similar failings, yet I've always had excellent treatment there as have a vast majority of locals who comment on online articles that I read as well as friends and family. I wouldn't want to go through another wait for an appointment myself.

I'd wait and go elsewhere.

The polyp is highly unlikely to be cancerous. They are very common and almost always benign.

Dubious, thanks for replying. I was at the hospital yesterday and it was chaos. After seeing the doctor (whose clinic was running late) I was asked if I had "half an hour spare" to go through pre-surgery checks.

I was waiting over an hour for these checks and ended up leaving without having them done as I had to go to work. (I was at the hospital more than two hours in total for what I was led to believe was a 20-minute appointment.)

The crowded department, the long wait and the attitude of reception and nursing staff towards patients, I thought, was awful. None of which inspired confidence in me.

I may well have to stick with them if I can't get referred elsewhere in a timely fashion. I'm glad though that you've had a good experience at your hospital and trust the staff - that helps a lot.

Pretty much all clinics at all hospitals run late and often quite a lot later than that...

Hi Polly and thanks for replying. I'm encouraged by your post but wondering how you can be so sure? Are you a doctor or nurse?
I'm a bit concerned about waiting longer and trying to figure out if I should just take the risk at the QEH.

But because I left yesterday before the pre-surgery checks I will no doubt have pushed back the process anyway. They might even have scrubbed me from their list.

dazed I am not medical, no. I have had a hysteroscopy and biopsy done - with no local and no GA. I have also had a friend who had the same thing done as you- same consultant, same hospital- with a GA. There was no urgency over it although she (and me) were private.
All I know is the cervical and uterine polyps are very, very common. If you have a read around online you will see it says most are benign.

I think I'd want to know about what you scan showed in order to make an informed decision. For example how big is it, what does the scan show, what are your symptoms....

I'd want the gynaecologist to advise me on whether a wait of a few weeks was going to make any difference.

The 2-week 'rule' is there for any post meno bleeding or irregular bleeding in women of a certain age. It doesn't mean that if something is found that needs treating, there is the same urgency to sort it.

I think you need to ask your GP about the wait for other hospitals OR ask if the polyp can be removed with a local and not a GA which will at least minimise one risk.

ps I didn't mean we'd been treated at your hospital- I meant by friend and I were treated at the same hospital as each other.

Hi I need new shoes. Yes, I realise that clinics often run late but this hospital feels worse, more chaotic, than other places where I've had to wait an hour or so over my appointent time (for example at UCLH). Please see the link about the news story:

www.standard.co.uk/news/health/hospital-in-south-london-attacked-over-significant-risk-to-patients-in-ae-a3613921.html

The main risk of that procedure is infection- the instruments used to gain access. There is always a small risk from a GA.

It's a day case procedure and you would go home quickly afterwards.

You can ask if they do it without a GA.

OP I have what my GP is certain is a nabothian cyst on my cervix, and she has referred me to gynae. I've also been referred on the 2 week cancer pathway as it's standard procedure for any cervical abnormalities, especially when coupled with post coital bleeding which I also suffer with. It's the second time I've had one and the second time I've been referred on 2 week pathway so im not feeling concerned this time around, although the first time I was terrified when I got a letter with an appt at the gynae-oncology clinic.
WRT to clinic waiting time, unfortunately 2 hours is pretty standard. Hospitals do their best with the resources that they have, but in the current climate it's just something to be expected. The hospital I go to is one of the best performing in the country and clinic visits can take anywhere between 1-3 hours.
I'd stick with it as a referral now could delay your treatment and while it's highly likely that it's benign, the faster you're treated, the better as it will ease your anxiety.

Thanks Polly
The gynaecologist told me that a GA was recommended. Because the scan suggests the polyp is small but she said that is not conclusive, only a guideline and when they "go in", as it were, they might find a bigger growth.

I'm such a coward (and squeamish) I would prefer the GA anyway. If the risk of infection is from the instruments used, whether you have a GA or LA should not make any difference should it? Or do you mean there is a different risk with GA?

Mangomay - thanks for your post. I'm actually coming round to your way of thinking in terms of sticking with the appointment at the dodgy hospital.

I found the CQC report in question online and although the hospital received a bad rating overall, maternity and gynae services at QEH were rated as "good". As were outpatient services. These were the only two areas in which the hospital received positive ratings.

The news report failed to mention this and focused mainly on the poor assessment of A&E services.

The risk from infection is from the instruments- the scope etc. It's a sterile pack but you are relying on it to be so.

There is an additional risk from the GA as there is anywhere.

You would be told after the procedure to report anything like a raised temp, pain or bleeding /discharge as this could indicate an infection .

Okay, thanks Polly.

It's good to weigh all these factors. Everyone's posts are extremely helpful and I'm really grateful to people for replying.

I would go elsewhere. I've been taking my daughter to two different hospitals and the difference between them is shocking. No way do I let her be admitted to the crap one now. You might struggle to get a different referral tho. As your gp or consider private if you can afford it.

Ps it's not just the risk of infection if the admin, the cleanliness of the place, the attitude of the nursing staff, the safety procedures and checks, the food, the infection control procedures, the standard of the drs....