Anyone else experienced having their operation being cancelled?
Mine was yesterday having gone through all the pre op preparation in hospital and being told my op would be soon it got cancelled. This is second time as it was cancelled last month before going in.
I was not cancelled but..... My admission was planned for 3pm and I had to ring at 1pm that same day to check that a bed was available. It was all about medical necessity: i was "urgent" but could be bumped by an "emergency". Did any one explain why?
I was like you I was consented and ready to go to theatre, then suddenly cancelled It was an awful experience. I was cancelled one more time, but that was the day before. To be honest, the actual day I had the surgery, I was far less anxious as I still thought I might be cancelled again. By the time I went into the anaesthetic room, I was feeling fine as it wasn't as first as that first time.
I hope your op comes soon and send you best wishes x
how annoying and difficult for you. I had my op lat week and I understand the tension you feel before the operation . It is good that they are waiting for icu staff to be available because you deserve care on a one to one basis. I suppose the only positive stand point is that at least you are strong enough to be left for a few days. Hope your operation goes ahead soon and you can get on the road to recovery
Hi, sorry about it being cancelled. Mine was cancelled twice before third time lucky.
When i got cancelled it was on the day after staying the night etc.
Have you been told when your next date is ?
I was at Basildon in Essex and they only operated one day a week for minimal evasive procedure so i was given a date fairly quickly.
How are you feeling about being cancelled ?
It really knocked me sideways being gowned and ready and having it cancelled (though I think they should say postponed)
I’m ok now and thanks for asking though it took me the rest of the week to feel better about it even though I understood the reasons why and was warned at pre assessment it could happen I think mentally you always hope it won’t.
Hi, same reason i was cancelled. In the end it made it easier for me as i had already been through the sutuation so knew what to expect. Apart from the awful pre load drink and bed i was ok lol.
It will happen, are you urgent or severe at the moment ?
Once you have it done and you are on icu just keep moving in your chair and keep pressing the morphine button.
I forgot and when i went to go to sleep it hurt which could of been avoided by using the button more. Other than that you will be out and onto the ward in no time.
Hi you say you were at Basildon for minimal invasive procedure - I am due to have an AVR through minimal invasive procedure, fingers crossed some time in March. Can I ask how long your recovery was afterwards please? Thanks Diana
Hi Diana,
How are you doing ?
I had Mitral valve repair Nov 2023 at Basildon.
The op was on a monday and i was out on Friday.
Rehab at home was slow and steady with walking around the house for a week or two then walking outside building up the distance until i got to two miles.
Rehab at the hospital was great, i think its 8 weeks of movement and excercise with fellow heart patients.
After that there is another rehab class that has to be paid for at blackshots gym.
I have an indoor bike that i started using after about 8 weeks. Building up the miles etc.
9 months after my op i rode my bike nearly 100 miles over a weekend.
This year i plan to ride to paris which is where my fitness was about a year before my op.
Id love to chat to you if you want to discuss the rehab.
Can swap email add if you like
James
Hi James
Many thanks for your reply which was really helpful. I am a qualified cardiac rehab instructor so not sure if I would do their 8 weeks of rehab as it's an hour and a quarter each way to Basildon for me. I am currently very fit or as fit as I can be albeit limiting my workouts to a specific heart rate above which I get symptoms. I am hoping that will help speed up my recovery as I am a keen gym bunny/golfer and will be champing at the bit to get moving again post surgery. Happy to share email address - are we allowed to share email addresses on this site?
Regards Diana
Hi Diana, i was in exactly the same position. I run a cycling club and was eager not to stop my enjoyment or envolvement so i was riding to a certain heart rate and distance until a week before. My email is jamesm320@hotmail.co.uk.
Hi James
Thank you for your help. I’ll send you an email with further questions shortly.
Thanks Diana
So sorry to hear this. Such an anxious time for both you and your family - to then have your op cancelled at the last moment, must be so frustrating. This info is on the N.H.S site re cancellations:-
The NHS Plan Cancelled Operations Guarantee
The NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee applies to those patients who have been cancelled "at the last minute" due to non-clinical reasons, i.e. on the day of arrival in hospital, or after admission to hospital, or on the day of surgery. Under the guarantee, the Hospital should treat the patient within 28 days of the original cancelled operation date or "fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice."
I hope you get a new date soon. 🤞🏻
Thank you for your kind words and the helpful information.
my husband had his op cancelled five times at Coventry. The first time was the day before when they had no beds. The second time, he was gowned and ready to go- staff shortage. They then offered a date the following week and a backup date a few days later, but both cancelled two days before the first date. He was then given a date 28days after the second cancellation, which we suspected they wouldn’t be able to honour. Needless to say, after the fifth cancellation, my husband contacted his referring consultant, who found him a surgeon in Glenfied. They also had to cancel the first date on the morning of the op, unfortunately, but they kept him in and did it two days later.
I hope your husband is recovering well and I expect the all the cancelled ones before are now forgotten. Horrible at the time though especially when gowned and ready.
He’s like a new man! Definitely a good outcome for him.
Hi , mine was cancelled/postponed but only for 2 days .
Considering it was during the times of COVID I felt very lucky.
I hope that you have your op. soon.
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