"My daughters cancelled surgery"

I am frustrated and upset for my daughter who was due an operation today on her thumbs at Birmingham Children's Hospital Her quality of life is rubbish due to her thumbs as her fine motor skills are greatly impeded.

We were offered a last minute cancellation on Thursday evening for today (mon) which we were so happy about as we have been waiting over two years to move forward.

We spent the entire weekend doing the right thing by preparing her for her operation, talking to her and her very emotionally anxious big sister. Showing her the PowerPoint specifically created for preparing a young child for surgery, only to be told this morning as we were leaving the house that the operation had been cancelled. They could offer no further appointment or any reassurance that the operation will occur soon. I was understandably shocked and upset and asked to speak to someone else. My reasoning was that it is a 20 minute procedure and a day case. The secretary assured me that the manager would call me back in a few minutes and an hour later I had heard nothing so I phoned back. Only to be told the same thing. I then waited a further hour still nothing. I asked my husband to phone back who was advised by the secretary that the operation "probably" won't happen. That doesn't mean definately and so this gives us false hope. He was advised that the manager would call me in a few minutes but to date, I still haven't heard anything. My husband has to take the afternoon off to pick up our other daughter but doesn't know if he needs to or not, I have take time off work and have no idea what's going on, my eldest daughter has emotional probs and this year was referred to CAMHS, due to her anxiety and emotional sensitivity, I have epilepsy that is bought on by stress and more to the point, my daughter is very little and is very confused and upset.

I don't understand why a hospital that prides itself on the health and wellbeing of children can then allow this to happen. The affect of a cancelled appointment and then a massive lack of communication is shocking and unacceptable. We are still waiting to hear whether or not my daughter is going in today or not, so then I can feed her as she has been on nil by mouth all morning. This kind of customer care makes me want to go private even when I am a strong advocate of the NHS.