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Original poster

How strict are hospitals after sedation

159 replies

AutumnDance · 31/12/2021 23:51

I was given a date for a hospital procedure. It's a day procedure. I will need sedation for the procedure.

It's said that I need to have someone come to collect me.
How strict are the hospitals on this measure?

You see my partner will be working or at the rate that covid is flying about he will probably have covid and will need to isolate. I don't have anyone else to help me to meet me after my procedure and take me home.

With covid, I doubt they will request to see your lift stand that on the ward to pick you up. I reckon they will have to remain outside.

Would I be able to get the procedure done without a lift home? How strict are hospitals on this?

OP posts:
Tiredmummyof3 · 31/12/2021 23:54

You can't drive for 24 hours after sedation and hospitals are extremely strict on it. Your insurance is invalid and you will be physically unable to drive. My DS slept all the way home recently after a sedation, he couldn't have driven by any means
I had to go into the day ward to collect him and they wouldn't allow him to leave until I arrived.

Lightswitch123 · 31/12/2021 23:56

Very strict for good reason. You could easily have an accident as you will be drowsy / disoriented/ other side effects. This includes an accident crossing thr road etc so you need an escort home- can't use public transport if don't want to drive etc

FindingMeno · 31/12/2021 23:56

You could perhaps ask if it would be OK to use a taxi, but I think half the issue is having someone with you while the effects are still wearing off.

LIZS · 31/12/2021 23:58

If your dp has covid it is unlikely your procedure will go ahead. You cannot drive, it takes a while to get the drugs put of the system and are quite disorientating.

FindingMeno · 31/12/2021 23:58

I know after sedation I am not fully aware or capable and need someone to keep an eye on me.
I certainly wouldn't be able to drive and really need to sleep it off when I get home.

Original poster
AutumnDance · 31/12/2021 23:59

I don't intend to drive because I don't drive.

OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 00:00

I will ask them about a taxi. When the procedure is done I could phone for a taxi for outside the main hospital door.

OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 00:03

I read on another online forum about the procedure that I'm going for. Sometimes it's offered without sedation. It can be a little bit uncomfortable but its bearable.

I would be interested in going without sedation but I don't know if that will be offered to me just yet. I would gladly lie back and snooze with an oxygen mask.

I have a fear of the dentist but I managed to nearly sleep in the dentist chair.

OP posts:
HelloDulling · 01/01/2022 00:04

If your partner tests positive you’d have to cancel anyway.

Either your DP needs to take the afternoon of work, or you can ask a friend. It’s not good to go home alone after a sedation.

ZeusandClio · 01/01/2022 00:04

I had my gall bladder out and got a taxi home 3 hours later. The hospital can't stop you leaving (not that they tried to stop me). The HCA wheeled me to the door when the taxi was there and off I went.

Original poster
AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 00:08

Me and my partner don't live together so if he catches covid, I might be able to escape it from him.

OP posts:
sageandbasil · 01/01/2022 00:09

If you don't have an adult to take you home they won't do the procedure. In my place of work the chaperone comes to the first part of the app to confirm they're taking the pt home then leaves and comes back when we phone them to say the patients ready

sageandbasil · 01/01/2022 00:10

You can't leave the building alone to get a taxi. Someone has to be responsible for you

negomi90 · 01/01/2022 00:11

I had a day case procedure in the last month. Even with covid, my dad had to come to the ward and promise he'd supervise me for 24h. They wouldn't have let me leave without seeing him.

KEG05 · 01/01/2022 00:14

They are very strict. Your given the same medication as you would with a general anaesthetic just not quite as much. You have to follow the same rules. It takes 24 hours for it to be fully out of your system.

Original poster
AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 00:14

That's all crap.

I'm a fairly independent person I don't want anyone to accompany me into a hospital appointment and then come back in again.

I would be willing to organise a lift or a taxi to meet me at the door but that's it.

OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnDance · 01/01/2022 00:16

Hopefully they will be able to offer the procedure to me without sedation.

I'm getting a colon scope.

OP posts:
Justkeeppedaling · 01/01/2022 00:19

I'm a fairly independent person I don't want anyone to accompany me into a hospital appointment and then come back in again

Independent enough to cope if you collapse in the back of the taxi? It's not really fair on the taxi driver is it? He's not responding for looking age you.

Spudina · 01/01/2022 00:23

My friend has these every six months without sedation. It can be done.

MyDcAreMarvel · 01/01/2022 00:23

I'm a fairly independent person not semi conscious you won’t be. Use some common sense.

JSL52 · 01/01/2022 00:25

@AutumnDance

That's all crap.

I'm a fairly independent person I don't want anyone to accompany me into a hospital appointment and then come back in again.

I would be willing to organise a lift or a taxi to meet me at the door but that's it.

It's nothing to do with being independent it's safety.
StopStartStop · 01/01/2022 00:25

I had a taxi home because there was no-one to collect me. They were concerned that I would be at home alone but couldn't magic family or friends out of thin air. On another occasion they wanted me overnight then within ten miles of the hospital, but let me go with dd who had come 60 miles to take me home with her.

user15364596354862 · 01/01/2022 00:25

Take the sedation. Get a taxi home. You have someone who can keep an eye on you once there.

They can't legally force you to stay in hospital - it would be false imprisonment which is a crime.

They might ask you to sign a form that you'd discharged yourself against medical advice (more likely if they wanted to admit you overnight because nobody at home to watch you or complications occurred).

They can't stop you leaving unless you don't have capacity to make that decision. Nothing here to suggest you won't.

user15364596354862 · 01/01/2022 00:28

I've been kept in overnight after sedation procedures because nobody to be with me at home - but left in a taxi.

Cattitudes · 01/01/2022 00:32

@AutumnDance

I will ask them about a taxi. When the procedure is done I could phone for a taxi for outside the main hospital door.
Seeing people having had sedation you probably won't be able to do this at the stage at which they discharge you. Imagine being drunk with no short term memory. You might not even know whether you have had it done or not.
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