"Surgical List"

I was a day patient and given the last surgical slot of the day - 5pm. This was a standard procedure performed in a private hospital funded by the NHS. The hospital doesn't do accidents and emergency cases.

I was asked to attend the hospital at 12noon, not eat after 8am and only drink clear fluids before noon. I thought an afternoon appointment was a bit odd for a day patient. But as I nervously distracted myself in my hospital room for hours it turned out that not only was it an afternoon appointment - it was the last one of the day. So my appointment was completely the wrong way round. Hours hanging around feeling nervous, little time recovering from general anesthetic and the shock of surgery to my body. I was keen to go home and physically I could manage it, but mentally I was messed up.