Day Surgery

Northern Private Hospital Day Surgery Unit provides a friendly, caring and comfortable environment for 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. However, if the need arises for you to remain in hospital overnight, you will be transferred to a suitable ward.

Your Admission

When you arrive at the hospital, you will need to report to the main Reception desk on the Ground floor of the Northern Private Hospital.

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. We therefore ask that you set aside the whole day for your admission.

Please bring the original referral with you – even if you have already faxed it to the hospital previously.

Preparation

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

ON THE DAY OF SURGERY

• Bathe or shower
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing
• Do not wear makeup or jewellery, other than a wedding ring (For any operation on arm/hand please remove all rings)
• Unless otherwise instructed, do not have anything to eat or drink six hours prior to surgery - this includes water and chewing gum
• 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 WITH YOU

• 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 shown to a waiting room and provided with a gown to put on. A bag will be provided for your clothes.

It is important to note there are no landlines available within the Hospital. You can bring your mobile phone though the Hospital does not take responsibility for loss or damage to personal items or valuables.

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 Northern Private 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 our Hospital Coordinator 84374888