"Day Ward procedure"

I was referred to Kalgoorlie Hospital from another hospital after an appendix op and booked in for a follow-up colonoscopy procedure. The colonoscopy was cancelled by the Locum surgeon as I was about to change into the hospital gown!

Why? I have a blood disorder - being that I have unusually low/fluctuating platelets, all the time. However, it was decided by both the surgeons at the other hospital, and the pre-admission surgeon in Kalgoorlie, that there was very little risk of me having a bleed during the procedure and it would be safe to have it done in Kalgoorlie.

At the prior appointments to my op, I raised my concerns regarding my platelet situation. I spoke to hospital staff in regards to my understanding that I believe Kalgoorlie does not carry platelets. I raised and questioned if I may need prednisone to bring my platelet level up prior to the surgery, as well as the need to have blood tests prior as they do fluctuate. I suggested to the anaesthetist to ask to have the blood people manually count the platelets as they are clumping platelets, and brought their attention to the fact that in my experience, my past blood test results in Kalgoorlie have always come back with a lower count than when done directly after flying to Perth Hospitals. 

As I stated above, it wasn’t until I was actually going to change into the hospital gown that the Locum surgeon made the decision that it was irresponsible and a risk to proceed (because my platelets were 59 - normal for me - and refused to go ahead). 

Anyone who has undergone the bowel preparation for a colonoscopy I believe would understand how I feel at this moment... both physically and mentally shattered! 

The Doctor/surgeon that broke the news explained to me each locum surgeon has a level of risk that they are comfortable operating at and I was just unlucky as next weeks locum surgeon would have certainly proceeded! I am infuriated! In my opinion, the most brain-numbing aspect is if this is the general understanding of how locum surgeons operate, why was this not communicated to the locum prior to me doing four days on a residue diet, four days off work (initial outpatient visit, pre-admission / anaesthetic appointment, 4 days for colonoscopy prep, procedure and recovery on sick leave) and having me attend from the morning, sitting in an awful waiting area in horrible, uncomfortable chairs with code blacks going on in the day ward while feeling weak and starving for two hours?

My main concern is the lack of professionalism in communication. I ask that this is addressed and I demand a full apology and explanation. I would like to think this situation can be resolved so no other future patients are treated in the same way, with this lack of professionalism.