Same hospital bed, same name

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understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.

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About 10 years ago I was having an operation in a London hospital I arrived during the afternoon and when it got to tea time the staff handing out meals claimed that I had cancelled my meal which I vigorously denied, telling them truthfully that no-one had asked me anything about my meal preferences. The next morning a group of nurses on the next shift congregated round my bed and the lead nurse said, "This is Mrs ....". One of the nurses interrupted and said, "No, she went home yesterday morning." I interrupted and confirmed that I was indeed Mrs ... It transpired that the previous patient had had the same name as me (and had indeed cancelled her evening meal). My surname in particular is reasonably unusual and I have never met face to face anyone outside of my immediately family with the same surname.
Total votes: 365
Date submitted:Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:30:33 +0000Coincidence ID:10097