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On the day
Prior to your operation
You should have a bath or shower before you come to the hospital. Please ensure that you have followed the instructions you have been given regarding eating and drinking, and also any specific preparation before your procedure. Please remember to bring with you:
- any medication you are currently taking
- the letter you were sent which includes details of your admission.
Please report to the Reception Desk, unless instructed otherwise. On admission to the Day Unit, you will be greeted by a nurse, who will check that your details are correct. The surgeon and the anaesthetist (if you are having a general anaesthetic) will talk to you and you will be invited to ask any questions you may have.
Each operating session has a schedule of the operations and when it is time for your procedure, a member of staff will escort you to the operating theatre.
Following your operation
After your operation, if you have had a general anaesthetic, you will be transferred to the recovery area, where you will be monitored until you are sufficiently recovered to be transferred to the ward.
In the ward area, the nurses will continue to monitor your condition. If you feel any discomfort, please inform the nurse looking after you, so that pain relief can be given. As long as you do not feel sick (after a general anaesthetic) you will be encouraged to have something to eat or drink, prior to going home.
You will be allowed to rest in the unit, until the nurse looking after you assesses that you are ready for discharge . However depending on your procedure, you may need to remain in hospital overnight and go home the following morning.
Unless you are advised otherwise, you will probably only need to stay in the Day Unit for half a day. This means, that if your procedure is in the morning, you will go home around midday : if your operation is in the afternoon, you will go home in the evening. If for any reason your discharge is delayed, provision will be made for an overnight stay.
Care at home
If you have had a general anaesthetic, you will need to be escorted home in a car or taxi; the use of public transport is not permitted. You will also need to have a responsible adult looking after you for 24 - 48 hours, depending on the procedure you have had. When you get home, you should rest. If you have children or dependants, alternative arrangements for their care should have been arranged.
If necessary, you will be prescribed painkillers to take home with you. Please take only as directed on the packaging.
The Day Unit nurse will give you specific instructions about your care following your procedure, but you can obtain some information, about what to expect after you procedure, by reading through the documents on the patient information leaflets page.
Any arrangements for follow-up care, after your procedure, should be organised before your discharge from the Day Unit.
Should you require any further advice or information about your care, please contact the Day Unit staff.
If you need further information about the having a day case procedure, try the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page