Anger after operation is cancelled

7:49am Friday 9th May 2008

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A TOWN woman was left shocked and upset after sitting in a hospital corridor for five hours before being sent home without treatment.

Lynn Casey arrived at Kidderminster hospital at 8am for corrective surgery to her elbow. There was just one woman ahead of her, but at about 10am a prisoner arrived handcuffed to officers and was seen within minutes after warders told staff there was a taxi waiting outside to take them back.

“At about 12.35pm I was told my appointment had been cancelled. I was very upset."

Hospital patient Lynn Casey

Miss Casey, from Catshill, said: "Eventually the lady patient was shown through and I was the last person in the corridor in my gown waiting to go to theatre.

"At about 12.35pm I was told my appointment had been cancelled. I was very upset. I had to get a taxi to take me to the hospital, then I had to arrange for another one to take me home. I had also arranged to pay for a friend to care for my three children because I expected to be in hospital overnight."

Ironically, Miss Casey said that if the hospital had treated her initial injury differently in the first place, she would not have had to return for corrective surgery.

Miss Casey said: "I shattered my elbow in April 2007, but I was sent home without having it set. It didn't heal so they pinned it and put it into a cast, but it did not set properly because of the delay. I have been in and out of hospital since last April and this was the last straw."

A hospital spokesman said: "We would like to apologise for any distress or inconvenience Miss Casey may have suffered as the result of her operation being cancelled. We make every effort to avoid cancelling anyone's treatment, particularly at short notice. We would ask Miss Casey to contact us directly so that we can address any concerns she might have." Since speaking to the Advertiser Miss Casey has been given another appointment for May 19.