Claire's story
Here is Claire Allen's story of her experience in hospital. You can access this either as Claire's story (Windows Media Video stream, 3 min 5 sec) or read the transcript below.
Transcript of Claire's story:
"On 2 March at 10.00am I was admitted to hospital for a routine laparoscopy to remove endometriosis by laser surgery.
I was told by the ward sister that I would not be able to eat until after my operation, which was scheduled for the following day. I should however, drink as much as possible because a bowel preparation makes you very dehydrated.
I was given a bowel preparation at lunchtime and told the next dose would be five hours later. Unfortunately the second dose of bowel preparation did not arrive, and it was only after reminding the nurses, that I was given the second dose (seven hours later than my first dose). This didn't bode well for the rest of my stay.
That evening, I saw the anaesthetist who told me I was third on the surgery list, and my surgery was scheduled for between noon and 1.00pm.
I asked him what time I should stop drinking, and also whether he had seen the perioperative fasting guideline recently issued by the Royal College of Nursing. He had seen the guideline and was adhering to it and, in accordance with the guideline, told me I could drink to 10.00am.
An hour later, I saw the surgeon, who told me I was fourth on the list, but that my surgery was scheduled for the same time and I was to be nil by mouth from 7.30am.
I questioned this, repeating what the anaesthetist had told me, but he said 7.30am was "policy". At this point, the nurse arrived, and said she thought I should be able to drink until 9.00am.
I asked the surgeon who I should adhere to - him, the anaesthetist, or the nurse, and he begrudgingly said "the nurse".
That particular nurse went off shift. The nurse who replaced her made me nil by mouth at 7.30am the following day, again citing the reason as "policy".
I was given my pre-medication, and anti-nausea drugs at 8.30am with a sip of water. I then waited for my operation.
Noon came and went, as did 1.00pm, 2.00pm, and 3.00pm. I had not been reassessed during the day in terms of drinking, but an emergency case had been admitted, and two operations took longer than expected.
At 5.00pm I was told that my operation had been cancelled and I could go home, but would I like something to drink.
If the recommendations from the guidelines had been followed, I would have been given consistent information from everyone; my fasting time would have been reassessed during the day and the whole experience would have been quite different."