"Disgraceful"

I attended the Short Stay Surgical Unit yesterday for a procedure under general anaesthetic and was appalled by my treatment. I was naturally anxious over the weekend, arrived there at 11.30am after following the instructions to have no food after 6am and no water after 9am. On my arrival I was greeted by a lovely staff member (not a nurse) but sadly this is where my nice experience ended.

I basically sat in surgical stockings, paper pants and gown in a small dingy day room (with no ventilation) until 5.40pm with no communication or updates until the surgeon came in and told me that they had run out of time to do my surgery. I was severely dehydrated at this point (with a terrible headache) and not to mention anxious. At approximately 4pm I had asked a nurse whether I was definitely going to be seen that day (as I was conscious that it was getting late) and the response advising me "of course you will be seen today, its just a very long list that's all" was quite dismissive and made me feel as though I had asked the most stupid question.

The surgeon offered no further explanation other than he had simply run out of time as they had 10 people listed that day (and I was the last). I am not sure that any of the staff (including the surgeon) had any comprehension what it is like to be so thirsty to the point of severe headache and so anxious every time someone walked in the room thinking "this is it, my turn" after having got psyched up over the weekend too. I also do a job where I had to work long hours the week before to clear the decks in preparation for my surgery.

Whilst I can appreciate that surgery can (and does) get cancelled at the last minute I do think this was handled particularly badly. Had someone at least tried to manage my expectations during the day, explaining when I arrived that it was a long list and was last (or late in the day) then I would have at least been able to prepare. They did prepare the list and perhaps it would be better not to book so many people in! I was then just left in the room with no explanation of when I would be seen or even where I could get changed back into my normal clothes. Thankfully a very friendly and helpful support worker then appeared and was so lovely (they offered me water and food) but none of the nurses even spoke to me. The one who assured me that my surgery would be done that day, took my gown back off me (when I eventually found someone to take it) and never said a word.

That support worker, today (and I know their name but cannot mention it here) has gone out of their way to get my appointment re-booked (which I am very grateful to them for) because quite frankly without their involvement I think I would be sitting here today none the wiser. When I thanked them for their kindness they told me "it was their job". It is a shame this was not displayed by the nursing staff on the ward.