"Frustration at hospital systems"

My husband was referred to SDEC recently following 3 months of severe abdominal pain, sickness and diarrhoea. He had 2 separate admissions to NGH via A&E in August, he was treated for thrombosis in the aorta to the bowel and sepsis. He lost 20lb in weight while in hospital. He was discharged from Cedar Ward despite still having abdominal pain.

As he is in remission for non hodgekins lymphoma, his haematology consultant commissioned MRI scans and colonoscopy. The MRI showed thickening of the small bowel. 

As his sickness and diarrhoea had continued, on and off since August, with headaches too, he was referred to SDEC.

The Registrar there referred him for surgery to remove part of his small bowel. As he is on blood thinners to disperse the thrombosis previously identified,  he had to come off them for 48 hours,  so surgery was planned for 4 days after admission. 

We arrived at 7am as requested only to find unit doesn't open until 7.30am. We were then told surgery may not be possible depending on other urgent cases coming from A&E. We had pre op assessments, but after 6 plus hours of waiting, we were told to go home and re present the next day. Although apparently same thing can happen again. 

My husband had no nourishment since 6pm the night before and no fluids since 6am that day. For an elderly, frail person in need of urgent treatment the disappointment and frustration is huge. He has been weakened by the whole process.

There is something wrong with the system when an urgent case for surgery as described on admission, gets bumped off the list four days later due to newer, more urgent cases. I appreciate that capacity is limited, but  the emotional and physical build up for surgery is a big thing for anyone and the rollercoaster of anticipation / fear and disappointment is huge.