Surgery CANCELLED

We arrived at Children's on time and Wren was admitted. We waited for half an hour in the triage area while a range of residents and nurses conducted questionnaires, took pressures and dressed Wren in his Scooby-Do hospital gown. Wren handled the "no muk" fairly well and only asked occasionally.

Finally, a nurse said that anesthesiology would be in any-minute to take Wren back.

Two minutes later, Dr Johnston (interventionalist) came in and told us that the hospital had no beds available. Since the procedure could require angioplasty and hence an overnight admission, they could not begin the procedure.

After cutting through a lot of bullshit and evasive partial-apologies it emerged that:

1) The hospital is "full" due to families choosing to have elective surgeries over the summer vacation.

2) They doubted a bed would become available until after lunch. It was a 50/50 chance. Wren could have apple juice but then would have to wait to find out.

3) If a bed became available they would have to fit Wren in around other emergency and scheduled caths so it could be evening.

4) Friday is a bad day for surgeries because the hospital seems to bump more on Friday.

5) We could wait and see or reschedule.

6) The next opening could be on Tuesday or up to 3 weeks time.

7) The only way to be sure we are not cancelled again is to have an overnight admission pre-op so we already possess the bed. This is not insurance approved or hospital policy but it can be "worked" if this is a real concern.

Can I just say F*CK again - two posts in a row?

I am alternating between anger and crying. I am just so let down after all the anxiety and preparation of the past few days. I can't seem to speak with the staff at the hospital without crying and am still intensely disappointed with the manner in which they handled the cancellation:

1) At the very last minute.
2) By only semi-apologetic senior staff who clearly wanted to just get us out of there and rescheduled.

Finally, someone sent in a Cardiology Social Worker who at least listened to my feelings and complaint. When I tried Jeanettes "this is not acceptable" Dr Johnston perked up a bit and asked that I make my complaint to the hospital.

What the Doctors do not understand is that from a patient perspective they are the hospital. A shoddy administration that cannot anticipate capacity until 20 minutes before operation reflects on the whole institution. I feel let down by cardiology as well as the schedulers.

Of course, we are all ready to be bumped for Emergency Cases - I have been prepared for that all along - but to be bumped 20 minutes before procedure because there is no 'room at the inn' is very difficult to cope with.