Thank you for choosing ĢtvƵ. We want to ensure your stay with us is as safe and comfortable as possible.
This information will help you to understand the active role that you will need to play in both preparing for your operation and in your recovery afterwards. Please read it carefully, as knowing what to expect will help to reduce your anxiety, make your stay in hospital more pleasant and speed up your recovery.
Before your operation
How you can help yourself
Whilst you are waiting for your operation, it is very important that you try to improve your general health and fitness. Staying fit before your operation will help you to get better faster.
You can do this in the following ways:
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Coming into hospital
What to do before you come into hospital
When you come into hospital, please bring a supply of each medicine with you in the original packaging, including sprays, patches and inhalers. This should include those you take regularly and any you use only when you need them. In most cases, you will continue to take your usual medications during your hospital stay, using your own supplies. If you have a repeat prescription list from your GP, please bring this with you.
On the morning of your surgery you should take your morning medicines at 6am, unless you have been advised not to by your surgeon, anaesthetist or the pre-assessment clinic.
When you are discharged, any changes to your medicines will be explained to you and you will take your remaining usual medicines home with you.
If we start you on any new medicines in hospital, you will be given a supply, along with information on how to take them.
Your admission letter
Please read this letter carefully so you know when and where you are being admitted. The majority of patients come into hospital on the same day as their operation, either to the Admissions Lounge or to a specialist/specific ward. If you have any queries prior to your admission, please contact the admissions team using the telephone number on the admission letter.
If you are being admitted the day before your surgery you will receive a telephone call to advise you of a time and the ward to come to for your admission. Alternatively, your admission letter may ask you to contact the ward directly after a specific time. The telephone number will be on the admission letter. If you have requested hospital transport, the transport may in some cases arrive before your admission has been confirmed. In this instance please contact the ward directly if you know which ward you are to be admitted to, or telephone the hospital switchboard and ask to speak to the surgical bed manager before setting off.
Back to topIf you have special needs
To help your visit go as smoothly as possible, please let the admissions team know if you need:
- Information in other languages
- Interpreters
- Sign language interpreters
- Information in Braille.
Fasting
It is very important to follow the instructions on when to stop eating and drinking, as your surgery may be cancelled or postponed if you do not. These can be found in your admission letter and also in the
Think Drinkinformation leaflet
This is given to you in the pre-assessment clinic. You are able to drink water for up to two hours before surgery. However it is very difficult to know exactly what time your operation will be.
Once in hospital, please do not have anything else to drink unless advised to do so by the staff looking after you. Whenever possible, you will be offered more water, taking into account your position on the operating list and any possible changes to that order.
Have a bath or a shower
Ideally on the morning of your surgery. This will help to keep your skin as clean as possible and reduce the risk of a wound infection after surgery. If you are unable to have a bath or shower that morning, please have one the night before.
Specific preparation instructions
Please follow any specific instructions that you have been given by your surgical team, eg: diet or bowel preparation. If you were expecting to be given specific instructions but have not received these, please contact the admissions team on the number found on the top of your admission letter.
Jewellery and cosmetics
Please remove all the jewellery and piercings that you can. Nail varnish, false nails and make up should be removed.
Looking after your belongings
Storage space on the wards for each patient is limited, so please bring only what you think that you will need. If you will be going to a different ward or unit after your operation, the nursing staff will label your property and store it in a locked room. It will then be transferred to the ward where it will be locked away until your arrival. Where possible, please mark personal items with your name so that they can be easily identified.
We strongly advise you not to bring in any valuables, large amounts of money or jewellery. You are able to bring in your iPad or tablet to usebut please note:The Trust accepts no liability for any loss, damage or theft of any property belonging to a patient, except where the property has been deposited with the Trust for safekeeping.
Back to topYour arrival at hospital
The Admissions Unit
This is a central admission area where patients are prepared for surgery. This can be a busy area, especially in the morning, as many patients arrive who are going for different types of surgery.
You are asked to arrive at the admissions area at at the time stated on your admissions letter and will be directed either to an admission space if you are first on the list, or to the waiting area. You may have a long wait before your operation. We understand how frustrating this can be for you. Unfortunately this is often unavoidable. Sometimes it is due to late changes to the operating list that become necessary; but usually it is to allow your surgeon and anaesthetist to see you before heading into theatre for a full day of operations. We are looking at ways to improve this situation for our patients, but in the meantime, please accept our sincere apologies if this happens to you.
Please bring something with you to help you pass the time. You may bring someone to stay with you until you go for your operation, however please limit this to one or two people as space is limited. You may be able to leave the ward for short periods, but please check with the nurse-in-charge and stay within the hospital grounds so that staff can contact you when it is time for your operation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to the admissions staff.
If instead you are being admitted directly to a designated ward or unit, you will either be asked to sit in a waiting area or shown to a bed on your arrival.
Preparation for surgery
Going to the operating theatre
If you are able, you will walk to the operating theatre accompanied by a member of staff. Wheelchairs and trolleys are available for patients who have difficulty walking or when the theatre is a distance away.
Theatre staff will complete a safety checklist before taking you to the anaesthetic room. Here, the anaesthetic team will attach you to some monitoring equipment before your planned anaesthetic and also answer any questions you may have. We want you to feel at ease so please feel free to ask anything.
Recovery after your operation
Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) or Recovery– when your operation is finished you will usually be taken to the recovery area until you wake up from the anaesthetic. As people recover at different rates, this can be anything from half an hour to several hours. A recovery nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation levels regularly and also ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.
When you are well enough, you will be transferred to the ward. Depending on the type of surgery, you may be transferred to the High Dependency Unit so your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels can continue to be monitored. Your surgeon and/or anaesthetist will usually have discussed this with you before your surgery.
Yourrole inyourrecovery
Once you have had your surgery, your aim is to recover and get back to your normal life as quickly as possible. This will reduce your risk of developing a complication and will take some effort on your part.
You are the most important person in your recovery –this is an important statement to remember, as you are the one that can make the most difference. You must listen and act upon the advice given to you by your clinical team.
The actions that you need to take for a good recovery are those thatno one else can do for you.
Back to topThese are explained as follows:
Preventing Infection – Top 10 tips:
- Use the alcohol hand rub at the entrance to wards and departments when you arrive and when you leave
- Wash your hands frequently and carefully especially after using the toilet, before you eat and whenever they look or feel dirty. Hand wipes are supplied for your use before every meal
- Remind your family and friends to wash their hands too
- Please let a nurse know if you have been in contact with someone who has had diarrhoea or vomiting within the last two days
- Do not sit or lie on other patients’ beds
- Do not share others toiletries or towels
- Do not touch wounds, dressings or drips and drains
- Please try not to bring too many personal items into hospital with you as they can make your bed area difficult to clean
- If you think another patient needs assistance please call a nurse rather than assisting them yourself
- Please do not bring in foods that require reheating. We are unable to reheat food due to food hygiene regulations.
Planning to go home
Once it has been agreed that you are medically fit, staying in hospital is not the best or the right place for you. Research shows that typically the quicker you get home, the quicker you tend to get better. It is normal that you will not feel as well on your discharge as you did before you came into hospital. This is because your recovery has just started and will continue over the next weeks or months at home.
It is important that you and your family are aware of how long you are expected to stay in hospital and start making plans for your return home in good time. This includes discussing any concerns you may have with hospital staff, making sure that you have enough medicines at home and arranging your transport, so that you do not have to stay in hospital longer than is necessary.
It is extremely important that you follow any instructions given to you by your surgical team about aftercare once you are discharged from hospital.
Other useful information
Visiting Times
Some visiting times may vary, so please check with the ward or unit on arrival. Please also check with the ward about the number of visitors per patient allowed at any one time, and any restrictions on children under five years of age visiting.
Contacting the ward
If a relative or friend wants an update on your condition they can call the hospital switchboard.
Telephone numbers for all ward and departments can be found on the Trust website using the link below.
Our HospitalsWe kindly ask that phone enquiries be madeafter11amby a nominated family member who can then pass on information to other family members and friends. Mornings are particularly busy for the nurses and large volumes of telephone enquiries means that nurses spend less time with their patients.
Please also be aware that nursing staff may not be able to give out detailed information over the telephone.
Refreshments and shops
We have a number of on-site facilities for visitors and patients to use, including relaxing dining rooms, food outlets and useful shops.
Parking at the Hospital
Our hospital car parks can get very busy and we cannot guarantee spaces. Parking charges apply. For some car parks, a barrier card is issued on entry, payment is made using the barrier card at the machine and the card is then used to raise the barrier on exit. Some car parks have a ‘pay and display’ system, where the ticket must be purchased and displayed inside the vehicle. For the most up to date prices and information about parking please see the Trust website using the link below.
Our HospitalsFree parking is available for blue badge holders and help with parking fees is also available for patients and families who qualify. If you think you may be eligible for free parking, please check with the ward or unit.
Bexley Wing Hotel
There is a small patient hotel on the St James’s Hospital site. This facility is available to patients and relatives who live a considerable distance away from the hospital. Patients can book in to stay the night before their admission along with one relative. If you think this would be of benefit to you please discuss with the admissions team when you confirm your operation date.
Comments and compliments
Your views are very important to us as they help us to improve the service we provide. If you wish to raise a comment or compliment you can do so by approaching any member of staff or speak to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on the telephone number below.
Back to topPatient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
An answer phone is available outside working hours
If you have any further questions about any part of this information please contact the admissions team on the number found at the top of your admission letter.
Further information can also be found at:
Patient ResourcesLarge printable versions of these maps are available from the Trust website:
Our HospitalsĢtvƵ General Infirmary – Location Map – ĢtvƵ
St James – Location Map – ĢtvƵ
Useful contacts