"Surgery cancellations"

I am extremely disappointed and distressed by the care I have received regarding my surgery, which has now been cancelled six times at Hairmyres hospital for Gynaecology. 

I was originally scheduled for surgery in mid December, and then the following week — both were cancelled. I was later admitted to hospital due to severe pain and was given a new surgery date in January, which was also cancelled. Out of desperation, I paid to see my own NHS consultant privately, who told me I would definitely have surgery that month at Hairmyres Hospital.

In mid January, I attended Hairmyres as instructed. I had fasted from the night before, spent the entire day in hospital, was seen by doctors, and signed all consent paperwork — only to be taken aside and told there was no time to do my surgery and that I was being sent home. I was told I would be first on the next list. I left heartbroken, in agony, and completely defeated.

My next date was mid February at Hairmyres, which has now also been cancelled and moved to the end of February. That makes six cancellations in total, with no surgery completed.

What makes this even more upsetting is that I previously had three surgeries at a different hospital via the NHS without a single issue. Now, suddenly, I am repeatedly cancelled at Hairmyres — yet my own consultant is available elsewhere if I pay privately. Meanwhile, as an NHS patient I am being sent home from theatre on the day of surgery and then told to wait another 7 weeks.

I have raised this with my MP, MSP, and the Health Secretary, all of whom have agreed that this situation is unacceptable and should never happen to a patient. I have now been told the latest cancellation is due to maintenance at Hairmyres — but I struggle to understand how that results in all surgeries being cancelled, especially when there are two other Lanarkshire hospitals where I could have been transferred.

This situation is a disgrace. It is causing severe physical pain, emotional distress, and is pushing me to breaking point. People should not be left begging for care or feeling forced into private treatment just to get the surgery they desperately need.