Hysterectomy called off three times

A surgery patient has told how her life- changing hysterectomy operation was cancelled three times - twice while she was on the hospital ward. Kathryn Pryor ( 34) from Bretton had been set to have her hysterectomy operation at Peterborough City Hospital on January 29. However, it was rearranged to February 19, and then again for March 9. On each occasion it was cancelled, and she is still waiting for her next date. She described the frustration of waiting, saying it felt like her life was ‘ on hold’. She said: “I fully appreciate that there are people whohave urgent and more serious cases but it is the psychological effects which are terrible. “I suffer from depression and had just managed to start rebuilding my life and my first date was cancelled on the January 29. I had a phone call an hour before I was due to go in. “I had to wait about a week for another operation date and this was set for the February 19. “Again I mentally prepared and this time I was on the ward for an hour and a half before being told it was cancelled again. “I then had to wait over a week for my third date and was reassured it would go ahead as the surgeon was coming in on a Saturday to do it. “Once again I prepared, said my goodbyes at work for a third time and arrived on the ward on Saturday, March 9. “I waited for over an hour and a half for a nurse to tell methat it had been cancelled again. “Myfamily have taken annual leave to support meafter my operation and work have been supportive but it has messed with people’s leave. “I cannot begin to describe how I amfeeling apart from angry, upset, frustrated and disappointed. I feel like my life is on hold and it’s a horrible feeling.” Mrs Pryor said she was making a formal complaint to the hospital on the advice of her doctor. Ahospital spokeswoman said the operations had to be cancelled because they could not guarantee a bed would be available following the operation to allow Mrs Pryor to recover.