Can I explain a little something here ???
Hi everyone,
I thought I'd give you a little insight into WHY a surgical procedure that probably should take a day is dragged out to 2-3+ days . . . from the perspective of the poor bastard who does the operating:
One arrives at a hospital. There is usually a wait . . . patients are seen according to urgency (if you're not likely to die from what ails you = not urgent).
Yes, you may be seen by a junior doctor (we all started somewhere), and they may need to speak to their senior/specialist. This is a good thing guys; I'm sure you wouldn't rather have the poor newbie guess at what to to do with you (or even worse, send you home?)
Now . . . timing of surgery. This is where people get shitty (rightly so). In an emergency dept, you are fasted so that if you need surgery, you can have it without having to wait the obligatory extra 6 HOURS without food - thank the anaesthetists for that (they decide on timing of surgery). The surgical doctor who sees you (me, if you're bloody unlucky) has to 1. decide whether you need the op, 2. make sure you are fit for an op (inebriated is NOT fit) and 3. find theatre time for an op (this is the fun part.) Emergency operating times usually only use one theatre - which means we all line up our cases to be done. Is someone is unwell (trying to die) - they get done first. If there is a kiddie who needs surgery, we try to do them first too (fasting for a little one is harder than adults). Now, remember, I said normally ONE theatre is open - so what happens if your case isn't done and it's getting towards 1am? Well, we can keep operating all night (which we will if this operatiion needs to be done) or we put it off until tomorrow (and yes, the same thing happens with theatres the next day, although we try to put people who have been delayed closer to the top of the list).
The waiting is shitful for everyone - includng me - arguing with anaesthetists about fasting status, with theatre staff about theatre time, wirth, bed managers about beds for patients (and having to tell the starved, injured patient that they are being put off AGAIN). No one person is at fault here - unless you want to send threatening messages to the local MP for the state of their local hospitals.

No apologies for length/width/height/surface area and circumference - I'm a girl.

PS: if anyone is thinking of breaking something this weekend, could you reconsider? I'm on call, and it's been awful the last few nights . . . ta.
PPS: I have nothing against anaesthetists - most of the time . . .
PPPS: I never play Dido whilst operating . . .
PPPPS: A agree, hospital food is absolute shite . . .
( Mrs Legless . . . belongs to, well, you know . . . :), Sun 19 Jun 2005, 1:25, Reply)