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Waiting time for a scheduled procedure

Posted By Tapdancer

"Waiting time for a scheduled procedure"

About: Princess Alexandra Hospital / General surgery

(as the patient),

Recently I was admitted at my allocated time of 7am for a Day Stay procedure. I was told that I was 2nd on the list but I was warned this may change - and it certainly did change (for the worst).

I was told that when the doctors arrive they make changes to the schedule. Having had nothing to eat for 20 hours and nothing to drink for 10 hours, I thought I had been forgotten. Then, fortunately for me, a considerate & sympathetic male nurse came on duty at 15. 00hrs, (all previous desk nurses had gone off duty), and after speaking with me he reminded staff in the theatres that I was still waiting and unchanged for surgery.

To him I will be eternally grateful. My procedure began at 16. 15 hrs. I was awake in recovery at 16. 45hrs and on a drip for re-hydration. The pre-op room was transformed into my recovery ward as there were too many procedures booked for that day and not enough beds in the normal recovery ward.

Why admit patients at such an early time knowing that they may have to wait almost all day for such a short procedure as mine? This is the second time this has happened to me at this hospital.

My post procedure care was much better than my pre-procedure care.

In my opinion this really needs to be rectified for patients and staff alike.

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Responses

Response from Shahid Sardar, Head of Patient Engagement, Patient Safety and Quality, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 10 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Shahid Sardar
Head of Patient Engagement, Patient Safety and Quality,
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

give patients a voice

Submitted on 25/11/2013 at 10:19
Published on Care Opinion at 19:52

Dear Tapdancer,

I completely recognise your experience and the need for this to change. I know that any staff member here would not like to wait for that period of time and nor would they wish a friend or family member to wait, so why should we expect you to find it acceptable?

We are currently running an Experience Based Co-Design programme where patients' stories are central to how we learn and improve; this is together with our Clinical Director for Surgery and the key surgery staff. We would be very keen for you to come and speak to our staff about your experience.

I have escalated the issues you have raised to the Clinical Director I mentioned but believe we can use your experience to make a difference. If you wish to participate and feel you can contribute the time, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01279 827211 and we will do whatever we can to resolve this.

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