Please:
- Don’t drive to the Day
Surgery Centre - arrange for someone (or a taxi) to drop you off and pick
you up
- Remember not to eat and
drink before your operation if you have been told not to
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
24 hours before your operation
- Do have a bath or shower on
the morning of your operation
- Leave all valuables at home
and remove all jewellery. If you wear contact lenses, please bring a
container so that you can take them out before your operation
- Remove all nail varnish and
make-up
- If you wear false nails,
please remove these from both of your little fingers
- Bring a warm dressing gown
and slippers with you
- Wear loose fitting clothes,
they’ll be more comfortable
- If you are taking any
regular medication, please bring that with you
- Please don’t attend if you
have a new continuous cough, loss of sense of smell or a high temperature
On the day of your surgery
When you arrive at the Day Surgery Centre, you will be asked if you are
well or have any symptoms of Covid19. You will be asked to wear a mask as per
usual Covid-19 precautions. Please inform your Pre-assessment nurse if you are
unable to wear a mask. You will then be asked to go to our reception, where
your details will be checked and then you can have a seat in the waiting area.
A nurse will call and check the information from your Pre-Operative
assessment with you for any changes. Please let the nurse know if you have any
changes or concerns. Please note that family and friends are not permitted into
the day surgery unit unless by prior arrangement. Please let your
pre-assessment nurse know if you will need someone to attend with you.
Once the day surgery nurse has admitted you, you will need to change into a
theatre gown and your dressing gown and slippers. Your surgeon (and
anaesthetist if you are having a general or spinal anaesthetic) will then see
you and you may also see the physiotherapist if needed.
After your operation, you’ll be transferred to the theatre recovery area if you
have had a general anaesthetic where you will be monitored then transferred to
the day surgery ward when you are awake enough. Patients who have had a spinal
anaesthetic or local anaesthetic only will be transferred directly to the day
surgery ward. All patients will be offered a drink and a light meal, usually
sandwiches or toast. You will be able to go home once you are comfortable, have been able to eat and drink and the nurses
think it is safe for you to do so.
Your relative or friend who is collecting you will be phoned when you are ready
to be discharged. Please note that as you may not be the first patient on the
operating list so you may not be ready to be collected for a few hours even if
your operation is only a short one. You will given a copy of your discharge
letter, post-operative care instructions and telephone numbers should you have
any concerns or questions after you have been discharged.
If you need any more information about your visit to the Day Surgery Centre,
please contact our pre-assessment nurses (see contact details on the right).
