"Cancellation of operation"

I had been waiting for over 18 Months or so for a Bilateral Vasectomy Operation which we hope would prevent any further pregnancies as we already have 3 young children. I was told that the surgery would maybe take place in a couple month's time but it wasn't booked in as yet.

After I hadn't heard anything from the hospital for a while I chased it up and was informed that I could be booked in for the upcoming week so I took the booking.

I received my letter and diet plan for the pre op. The diet was for a Colonoscopy not a Bilateral Vasectomy but I followed it until when I went in for the pre op appointment. I was told I should not have been given the diet information and then filled in the consent forms with the Anaesthetist.

I went into the hospital for my surgery after going through with COVID protocols and doing a RAT before heading up to the ward. Once there I was told by the staff I wasn't on the lists for that week? They got me a bed in the interim in case there was a miscommunication and I had been missed somehow. As per the usual routine I had been fasting overnight so just read a book waiting to hear what was happening.

The theatre nurse came into the room and very apologetically told me that the visiting surgeon was not qualified to do the Bilateral Vasectomy and that I should've been informed that my surgery was cancelled that day. The nurse then organised me a medical certificate for my day off work and gave me a few dates the following month for a possible booking. She then organised a lift for me back home as my wife was working and I had no other means to get home.

I can't complain about the way I was treated or the staff I dealt with but something has obviously gone wrong and luckily it wasn't too much of an inconvenience for all involved but I feel it still should not happen.