Postby carissab » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:53 am
I just wanted to add my recent experience for anyone not covered under hospital insurance (like me who had recently moved to the UK and preexisting illness were not covered for first couple of years despite having private health insurance for years in our home country). My nearly 4 y.o had his tonsils and adenoids removed last Thursday as a day procedure at St Georges hospital. Everyone there was brilliant, the nurses, the anaesthetist & the surgeon on duty that day, she was great also. From the first appt at the hospital, to his speedy admission on to the waiting list, then only 3 months waiting and then the surgery everything has been brilliant. He is now still recovering but really has no idea that he just had surgery, that is how well he is going!
I also recommend staying close to recovery. They wake up from the anaesthetic very confused and not so much pain, but unsure of what is going on, what happened to them and generally upset to the point they may be unresponsive to your reassurances for a while. St Georges gave us a beeper to let us know when we could come in and it was 45 mins after he went for the op. While waking he dozed in between the crying sessions and eventually every time he woke up he woke up better.