Decision Report 201904902

Summary

Mr C, who had a previous history of repeated sinus infections, attended the day surgery unit at St John's Hospital for planned septoplasty surgery (corrective nose surgery). He was prepared for surgery by a nurse but Mr C was then reviewed by a doctor who decided that surgery was not required at that time and that Mr C could be discharged home with nasal capsules and would be reviewed at a later date. Mr C said that it was unreasonable that the doctor had overruled a previous consultant, who deemed that surgery was required, and that he was prescribed capsules which had not been effective in the past.

We took independent advice from an ear, nose and throat surgeon. We found that it is not unusual for planned surgery to be cancelled on the day of surgery. Clinicians who may have not seen the patient previously routinely review the symptoms reported and may determine that the surgery is cancelled or that alternative surgery should proceed instead. We did not uphold Mr C's complaint.