Hi all,
So I had surgery cancelled on the day this week. I was all prepped to head down - fasting and in my surgical gown, etc., but then my procedure got cancelled as the surgery before mine had unexpectedly overrun. Annoying, as I had booked all the relevant time from work, but I understand that you can't plan for the unexpected, and so these things happen.
I was told the scheduling team would contact me the next day to reschedule. They weren't. The only times I have spoken to them this week are when I've chased them up.
No, my understanding is that the surgery day (the day of the actual cancellation) was Day 0, the day after the surgery was meant to be Day 1, and so forth.
I'm getting different bits of information online, and the scheduling team themselves were very vague when I asked.
So, the NHS Constitution where all last minute cancellations have be re-arranged within 28 days, otherwise it's recorded as a care breach - does that mean that the procedure itself needs to be done within 28 days, or that they only need to give me another confirmed date within those 28 days?
The lady on the scheduling team seemed confident earlier in the week that I would rearrange for February, but when I called her again today, she said that it was unlikely to be "at least until late February, but more likely to be early to mid-March now", as she was struggling to fit me in.
A date in March would take me beyond the 28 days (hence why I'm asking if they just need to give me another date within that time or if the date itself needs to be within the timeframe).
I think I had wrongly assumed that they would not try and priortise me a little as my surgery was cancelled on the day itself. The reason for surgery is not life-threatening (and I would definitely rather someone in a life-threatening condition go first), but I am in daily pain and I thought I may be prioritised somewhat, but the scheduling team doesn't really seem too bothered about me. I have a feeling that I may suddenly become a priority in around three weeks, when my 28 days are nearing their end.