Just had major surgery cancelled at the very last minute, because my surgeon could not find enough staff. Went into the Royal Free yesterday, nothing to eat after 6am today, nothing to drink after 11, I am sitting there in my surgical gown, elastic stockings, waiting. Eventually the surgeon came at 1.30 and said she was sorry, nearly everyone had called in sick and she could not get a good enough team together to do my op. She said she would not be happy with fewer than 3 skilled assistants, (It's a long and complex op.) and she had phoned around various hospitals, but did not want to do a job like this with people she'd not worked with before.
She was really decent and sympathetic, and I respect her reasoning. Instead she spent the afternoon doing smaller ops with a smaller team. She has promised me January 7th. I'm grateful she was honest enough not to proceed and to explain why. But can the entire womens' surgical team (apart from one) really all fall sick on the same day?
2007-12-17 05:16:19 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Sometimes thing happen for a reason, and as maddening and upsetting as this can be maybe it's for the better. Maybe the entire women's surgical team is actually sick maybe not, maybe some of them are truthful and some are not, we can't tell, the main thing is that you are going to have a surgery on Jan. 07 with a great surgeon who knows how to make decisions. It looks like your life is being well taken care of by this doctor.
2007-12-17 05:30:35 · answer #1 · answered by forevergone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guess everyone had a great weekend and needed an extra day to recuperate. It's better than having a surgical team of hang overs and non-rested people, I mean that would be wrong. Hang in there and hopefully your surgical team doesn't party to much the weekend before January 7th. Good luck!
2007-12-17 13:28:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd be a little put out yeah. But think of the big picture your surgery wasn't meant to be done at that time. They could have all had a stomach flu it travels quick, Most surgical teams don't just miss work so consider yourself lucky. This was definitely a message.
2007-12-17 14:18:40 · answer #3 · answered by Kat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of coarse it's possible, but knowing the NHS and the public sector, I think some of those staff may of being doing a little bit of xmas shopping. I'm suspicious of the skill that health professionals have to pacify patents. But it could all have been true. You obvious disappointment comes with being so close to your opp. I liken this to passengers on a delayed flight due to technical problems. Would your rather be delayed or for the aircraft to take off, with the problem missed.
Look on the bright side, you can enjoy "Crimbo!"
2007-12-17 14:15:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds a little fishy to me if you ask me! What are the odds of the surgical team falling ill like that? I would be HIGHLY upset at this. Especially you had to not eat or drink from a certain period of time and thats not cool at all. But since they were able to reschedule your surgery then I guess it can be forgiven if your health can wait until then.
2007-12-17 13:33:27 · answer #5 · answered by nita51777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see your name is Amsterdam so I bet your surgery-to-be was in VU Amsterdam? I know how your are feeling.
Long ago I had an op. there and it was cancelled at the last minute because they couldn't paste my op in the schedule anymore. They did it 2 months later!
2007-12-17 14:22:28 · answer #6 · answered by Hanya 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately, you'd be surprised... I used to work at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, and I can attest that a lot of people are sick at the same time. one particularly nasty strain will go thru the hospital like crazy. thats why they put the hand sanitizer every where, but it doenst help as much as you'd think... :o)
and it really does suck for you, but I think the doctor was smart to not do your operation when she wasnt comfortable.
2007-12-17 13:26:21 · answer #7 · answered by redheddedblondie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your surgeon was acting in your best interest that is, what she is paid to do.
. At least she had the courtesy to explain to you and that, in this world today is, a bonus.but good luck with the OP.
2007-12-17 15:54:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I think I would rather have them call in sick than to have an open wound exposed to their germs. Then again, do you feel comfortable going to a hospital that has the potential to be that under staffed?
2007-12-17 13:25:39 · answer #9 · answered by Arrica H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its possible. If I were you I would not be mad about it, instead think to yourself if they really are sick would you want them operating on you if they were not feeling their best. I know I would rather wait, the surgeon knows what she is doing, trust her.
Good luck when the date does arrive though:-)
2007-12-17 13:23:55 · answer #10 · answered by ~Romantic_Dreamer~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋