Coming in for surgery

Preparation for your surgery

Prepare for your surgery by following the instructions provided at your pre-admission appointment to avoid your surgery being cancelled.  This includes when to fast, medications to stop and anything you have been told to bring on the day of surgery.

What to bring

Every time you come to hospital

• Your Medicare card
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
• Medications you are currently taking, including any that you have bought without a prescription and herbal medicine. Please avoid bringing in any strong pain and sleeping medication. We will supply these medications during your admission if you require them.
• Relevant x-rays, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
• Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
• Glasses, hearing aid, walking frame

For a day procedure

• The name and contact details of the responsible adult carer who will take you home and stay with you overnight
• Advanced Healthcare Directive if you have one

For an overnight (or longer) stay

• A dressing gown, sleepwear and slippers, or comfortable day clothes and shoes
• Your toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo etc.)
• Tissues
• Advanced Healthcare Directive if you have one

Do not bring (for overnight or longer stay)

• Your handbag, wallet, purse or large amounts of cash. Just bring a small amount for items such as newspapers, magazines or coffee.
• Valuables, such as jewellery, watches, electronic devices or other items of value to you. If you need to bring valuables with you, we recommend leaving valuables with your support person during surgery.

Your surgery

Day surgery admission

On arrival, visit the Day Surgery reception using lift A to Level 2. You will be welcomed by a receptionist who will check your paperwork and ask you some questions.  We ask you to nominate one person to accompany you on the day.

Clinical admission (Day Surgery Unit)

At the Day Surgery Unit, you will prepare for surgery by changing into a surgical gown and underwear, and you may be given stockings depending on the type of surgery. The nurse will check your personal details, put an identification bracelet on you, take your blood pressure and temperature and go through a list of questions.

Your support person may stay with you during the admission process. Once your admission has finished, you will be taken to another area to await your surgery.  At this point your support person will be required to leave the area.

Operating room

When it is time for your procedure, you will be prepared for your anaesthetic and transferred into the operating room.

Recovery – Post Anaesthetic Care Unit

Once your surgery is complete you will be moved into the Recovery unit and monitored by a nurse.

After surgery

Going home on the day of surgery

If you are going home on the same day as your surgery, you will be taken back to the Day Surgery Unit where you are monitored, provided with a light snack and your support person is contacted.  A nurse will take you through your discharge information.

If you received a general anaesthetic or sedation, your support person will collect you from the Day Surgery Unit directly or, if arranged, the Transit Lounge. You must organise transport and an appropriate adult to collect you otherwise your surgery may be cancelled. This is to ensure you are discharged safety. Public transport is not appropriate and a taxi may be used only if a support person accompanies you.

In the following days, a nurse will contact you to ask about your recovery and answer any questions

Staying overnight or longer

If you are staying overnight or longer you will be transferred to a ward. Staff will help you with your post-operative needs and care for you while you recover.

Once you have recovered from your surgery, the staff will make sure you have everything you need to make an easy transition back home. On discharge, you must have a support person collect you to take you home.

Discharge

We will prepare a discharge plan for an easy transition back home. This may include:

• any follow-up outpatient appointments
• medicines and prescriptions
• arrangements for any community support services
• any equipment or aids you need at home.

You must organise a support person to pick you up after your procedure. If your support person is arriving later in the day, you’re able to wait in the Transit Lounge area.

Concerns after surgery

Contact your General Practitioner or 13HEALTH if you have any concerns about your health after you leave hospital.

If you suddenly become unwell, call Triple Zero (000) or go to the hospital Emergency Department.