Preparing for your surgery and hospital stay means knowing what you need to do in the days before your operation and knowing what to pack for the hospital. Stay active by strengthening your muscles around your hip as this will help with your recovery. Gentle exercises such as walking or swimming within your pain limits are advised. Keep all the other joints active. You will need to make arrangements to drive yourself to and from the hospital. Prior to your surgery date, you may be required to attend the hospital for a pre-operative assessment.
What happens during a pre-operative assessment?
The pre-operative assessment clinic gives your surgical team the opportunity to make sure you are fit enough for the surgery and anaesthetic. They will check if you have medical problems which need treating prior to surgery, any medications you should stop in advance and can advise you on how long you are likely to stay in hospital. You’ll be asked questions about your medical history, the support you have at home, and current health. They may want you to review your current medication so please bring these with you. You may also be asked to carry out tests such as MRSA screening, blood tests, or urine tests.
During this visit, you will have a chance to ask last-minute questions.
What should I bring into hospital?
Make sure you pack everything you will need during your hospital stay. This might include:
All tablets, medicines or inhalers that you have been prescribed (including those stopped prior to surgery)
Personal items – including night clothes, dressing gown and slippers,
Comfortable day clothes
Your spectacles (labelled with your name)
Clean underwear
Toiletry items (toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel, soap, shampoo, shaving equipment, comb or hairbrush etc).
Mobile phone and charger
Comfortable footwear
A notebook and pen to write down important instructions
What do I do on the day of my surgery?
Please follow the advice given by your care team regarding taking or stopping your routine medication before the operation. Please bring all your medicines with you to the hospital
If you are using any devices (eg. CPAP machine), please bring it with you. You may need it whilst in the hospital
If you are having spinal anaesthetic, we may allow you to listen to your own music. You may wish to bring your own personal music playing device and ear piece
You will be expected to attend the ward/admission unit shown on your letter at the specific time indicated.
Fasting: All patients need to fast from midnight the night before admission. You may not eat or drink anything the morning before surgery
Hygiene: To help reduce unwanted bacteria (germs), it is important that you remove all body piercings and make-up. Shower with disinfectant soap and do not apply body
lotion. Use a clean towel and get dressed in clean clothes
Transportation: You will not be well enough to drive or travel by yourself after your surgery, so make a plan ahead of time for getting to and from the hospital..
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References
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2020 , Perioperative care in adults, viewed 19 December 2020.
NHS, 2018, Before surgery – Having an operation(surgery), viewed 19 December 2020, <(www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/preparing-for-surgery.aspx>.
NHS, 2018, General Anaesthesia, viewed 19 December 2020,