"Tonsillectomy"

We were to be in day surgery with my son for 11:00 for a tonsillectomy.

The letter we had informing us of this said to eat until 06:45 and drink until 10:45. 

We arrived at ward 1b to have this changed to drinking until 12:30. 

On speaking to the anaesthetist Jocelyn (who was lovely) again this was changed until 15:00.  She informed us we had received an old letter as he could have eaten until 07:30 that morning. This is a big difference when his surgery didn’t go ahead until after 16:30 at 9 years old.  

It would also be nice if the game station remotes were not taken away until all children were at theatre. It is a very uncomfortable area to be waiting in for almost 6 hours

On admission to ward 1a we had an introduction to a Mhairi the day shift nurse who was lovely and treated us both very well. 

As the night shift arrived a student nurse took over who did not introduce themselves to us just started taking observations. The night shift nurses at no point introduced themselves to us and when my son was due medication asked “ mummy what is -x-x-‘s date of birth? At 9 he is old enough to answer that himself. They did the exactly same the next morning never once asking if he had any allergies. 

Surely a bit of common courtesy to introduce yourself to your patients is routine? 

These small things make a huge difference to a child and their parents stay at an understandably stressful time