For Patients: Day Surgery Patients

Day Surgery Patients

Day Surgery patient information

Day Surgery

Waverley Private Hospital Day Surgery Unit provides a friendly, caring and comfortable environment for certain operations and procedures that do not require an overnight or extended stay.

Day surgery is a modern concept made possible through new anaesthetic and surgical techniques, reducing your hospital visit to one day or just hours. The highest quality care is maintained with the benefit of being discharged on the same day.

Day surgery effectively reduces anxiety normally associated with undergoing surgical procedures and it is the ideal way to avoid disruption at your work or home.

The style of accommodation has been specifically designed with a short stay in mind. However, if the need arises for you to remain in hospital overnight, you will be transferred to a suitable ward.

Before your admission

Once the decision has been made that you require admission to Waverley Private Hospital, we ask that you deliver, post or fax your admission paperwork to the hospital AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (please ensure that the original is brought with you on admission if you have faxed prior to admission).

When you first come to the hospital (either to deliver your forms or on the day of admission) please bring with you:

• Medicare Card
• Health Fund Details (if applicable)
• Pension and/or Veteran's Affairs details (if applicable)
• Worker's Compensation or Third Party claim details (if applicable)
• Pharmaceutical Safety Net Card and/or Health Care Card (if applicable)

If you have any questions regarding your procedure or length of stay in hospital, please contact the Admission Office on (03) 9881 7686. Any questions re accounts, excesses etc please phone 9881 7850 or 7745.

Your admission

When you arrive at the hospital, you will need to report to the main Reception desk.

To enable staff to prepare you adequately for your procedure and to allow time for anaesthetic consultation there may be a waiting time between your admission and procedure time and we therefore ask that you set aside the whole day for your admission.

If admission forms and consents have been faxed to the hospital, please ensure that you bring the original with you.

Preparation

To ensure your stay with us is as comfortable and pleasant as possible, please read the following information carefully.

Before surgery

• Bathe or shower
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
• Do not wear makeup or jewellery, other than a wedding ring
• Unless otherwise instructed, do not have anything to eat or drink SIX hours prior to surgery - this includes water
• You should not smoke or drink alcohol 24 hours prior to admission
• If you are taking medications and are unsure about whether to continue these, please check with your admitting doctor.

Please bring

• Current medication (in their original containers)
• Relevant x-rays or test results
• Glasses, hearing or other aids
• Medicare card, private health fund details, Pension / Concession or Pharmaceutical Entitlement Cards
• Payment if necessary
• Names and contact details of the next of kin or a contact person
• If you have an Advanced Health Directive or an Enduring Power of Attorney for health matters, please bring a certified copy of these with you.

Once the Day Surgery Nurse has finished your admission, you will be taken to a shared waiting room and provided with a gown to put on. A bag will be provided for your clothes. The Hospital does not take responsibility for loss or damage to personal items or valuables. Mobile phones are not permitted for use within the Hospital.

Post surgery

After your procedure you will be taken to the recovery area. During this time, our nursing staff will continually monitor your progress and comfort. Your length of stay in the recovery area will depend on your operative procedure. Usually patients are discharged between two and four hours after treatment.

Discharge

Before you leave the Hospital, our staff will give you full instructions about dressings, medications and follow-up appointments.

Please stop at Reception in the main foyer to be discharged and to finalise your account. If you have a general anaesthetic you will be unable to drive home, so please make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home.

For the first 24 hours, it is important if you have been given any form of sedation that you DO NOT:

• Drive a car
• Drink alcohol

If you are taking regular medications you should discuss this with your doctor.

After you get home

Depending on the surgery performed, some patients may experience certain sensations including: pain, nausea, sore throat, muscle pain, disturbed ability to concentrate. If you experience any problems when you go home following your surgery please call your doctor or the hospital after hours.