"Surgical cancellations"

My adult child cut their index finger with a grinder whilst doing home repairs. They presented to Sutherland Hospital first and was referred to Sydney Hospital with an appointment for early in the morning. I believe they were told to fast a few hours before.

Around the afternoon that day, I believe after being pushed back on the surgical list, and knowing they would be unable to get home if they went for surgery so late, my child signed a discharge form and went home with an appointment for surgery on the weekend. Again my child fasted, and surgery was cancelled. They were given an appointment for surgery for the Monday, fasted, was cancelled again. My child was then given an appointment for the next day, again fasted, again cancelled and told to come back the following day. That day, they were able to miraculously stitch my child's finger with a local anaesthetic only.

Let me say, as a Registered Nurse of 20years I understand emergencies necessitating cancellation, but my child lives 3hrs away and was off work without an income due to the injury. Despite knowing this, I believe Sydney Hospital felt it was perfectly ok for my child to travel to Sydney, 6hr round trip and $100 in petrol 6 times in a week before they were able to do a, in my opinion, simple closure of the wound.

I felt there was no care factor whatsoever. Sydney Hand Hospital is an absolute joke in my opinion.