"Twice cancelled surgery "

I have had 2 appointments cancelled for a choledocial cyst removal at Leicester General Hospital. On each occasion I have been waiting in a hospital gown, nil by mouth for 10 hours before an auxiliary nurse appears to tell me the surgery has been cancelled.

The first occasion was due to someone else needing the HDU bed. I fully understand this but in my opinion to be left 10 hours is not acceptable. Yesterday was down to further complications with another patients procedure. The HDU bed was not an issue. But once again, I had been in a gown, nil by mouth for 10 hours.

We were not advised about my position on the list on either visit. At around 3.30 yesterday we asked at the nurse's station for an update. She told us there is no operating list as such & the surgeon takes patients from the list and from the wards at random. In other words it's down to luck of the draw. The nurse stood grinning at me and then said I was to be more patient. This may be sound advice but unlike me she had eaten, drank & was fully clothed not facing a big operation and being kept in the dark.

I understand this cyst removal has to take place but I really do not want to go back to this hospital to waste another 10 hours. Furthermore I have no desire to be seemingly glared at by some of the nurses I met because we complained about my treatment. My advice to anyone is do not complain until you've been treated.