On the day of surgery
On the day of surgery
Bring everything with you that you will need, especially if you are staying overnight or longer. Your appointment time does not indicate the time of your surgery. Your actual operation will not happen until your preparation is complete. Please be prepared for some periods of waiting.
Questions we ask you
When you arrive at the hospital you will be asked to give information about yourself to check against our records. You may be asked the same questions a few times before and after your procedure because we need to be sure all our records are correct and complete. Different members of your care team may need to check who you are – this is a safety precaution, not a sign that we keep forgetting what you tell us.
What to bring
Limit your luggage to one small bag that is easy to carry. Please note: We will try to keep items safe but we are not responsible for the loss of any personal items.
- Your appointment letter.
- Any medications you are taking, or ointments you are using regularly.
- Glasses, hearing aids or dentures and their cases.
- A small amount of cash ($20 or less). Leave your valuables at home.
- If you are staying overnight or longer:
- one change of comfortable day clothes and shoes
- sleepwear, slippers or jandals
- personal toiletries (e.g. toothbrush and toothpaste, moisturiser, etc).
- You can bring a mobile phone and charger, but you are responsible for looking after them.
If your surgery has to be cancelled
In some cases your hospital booking may be postponed and rescheduled because of an influx of emergency cases on the day or some other unavoidable event. If this happens, we are really sorry, but we must treat the most urgent patients first and ensure clinical safety standards are met.
Cancellation of surgery or other treatment is only done as a last resort – you will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
Post-operation recovery
If you were anaesthetised or sedated, immediately after your surgery you will be taken to a Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (also known as the Recovery Room) where you will receive care while waking up from your anaesthetic.
Admission to a hospital ward
If you are staying overnight or longer, you will be admitted to one of our hospital wards. You will be given a welcome pack including information about the ward or facility and about patient safety.