On the day of surgery

Before your surgery you will be given instructions on when to stop eating and drinking. This will vary depending on the time and type of surgery you are having. The reason is that if there is food or liquid in your stomach during your anaesthetic, it could come up into the back of your throat and then go into your lungs. This would cause choking, or serious damage to your lungs.

You should always follow the advice given by your surgical or pre-operative assessment team.

It is important you follow this advice as your operation may be cancelled if you do not

Your admission letter will explain where in the hospital and when you should arrive. Plan your journey to the hospital in advance and give yourself plenty of time to make the journey on the day.

Once you arrive, you will be checked in by a member of staff and given an identity bracelet to wear during your time in hospital.

Your admission time is not the same as your surgery time. Occasionally, you may have to wait for your surgery, as that the clinical teams need to prepare everyone for surgery. This is the most efficient way to ensure all operations go as planned and reduces cancellations.

During your time in hospital, you may be asked the same questions by several people. This is routine and part of the safety checks. It ensures that correct information about you is checked and available at each stage of treatment. It is during this time you will be seen by different members of the healthcare team, including your surgeon, your anaesthetists and the nursing team.

On the day of your surgery, you will meet with your anaesthetist. They will review your medical notes and pre-operative assessment and discuss with you your medical history. Together, you will decide which is the best type of anaesthetic for you. This may vary depending on your medical history, the planned operation and your preferences.

They will also discuss with you the about the options to manage any post-operative pain and together you will decide the best plan for you.

You can find more information on the ‘Pain Relief’ section of this website.

You can find more information on types of anaesthetics on the ‘Anaesthesia and Risks’ section of this website.

After you have been seen by your surgeon and anaesthetists you will be asked to change into a surgical gown in preparation for your surgery. You will be asked to remove all jewellery, body piercings and contact lenses. You can keep in hearing aids and glasses until you are taken to the anaesthetic room for your surgery.

Unless contraindicated, you will be measured for and ask to wear anti-embolism stockings. These are to reduce the risk of blood clots in your legs and should be worn until you are back to your usual mobility.

You should not bring in any valuables, large sums of money or jewellery. If you are accompanied to hospital, you should ask them to take home all non-essential items, such as coats and bags. Any remaining belongings will be kept in a locker or taken to your post operative ward and kept securely.

Once your surgical and anaesthetic team are ready for you, you will be taken to the anaesthetic room, accompanied by a member of the nursing team.

If you are unable to walk, a wheelchair or trolley will be provided instead. You can keep your hearing aids, dentures and glasses on until you arrive in the anaesthetic room.

In the theatre area you will be taken to the anaesthetic room where a member of the anaesthetic team will check you in. This will include the anaesthetist and an ODP or anaesthetic nurse. They will perform routine checks and ask your name, your date of birth, the operation you are having, where on your body you are going to have the surgery, when you last ate or drank and if you have any allergies. These checks are routine in all hospitals.

To safely monitor you during surgery, you will be attached to several machines. These include patches to monitor your heart, a blood pressure cuff on your arm and a clip on your finger (pulse oximeter) to monitor your oxygen levels. You may require further monitoring depending on your operation and type of anaesthetic and this will be discussed with you before your operation.

You will also require a cannula in your hand or arm so that you can be given intravenous medications and fluids during your operation. This is normally used to start your anaesthetic.

After most operations you will be taken to the recovery area, which is a special ward close to the operating theatre, where you will be closely monitored as you recover from your anaesthetic. You will stay here until your vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels) are stable. Members of staff will be close by and will treat and pain or sickness that you have.

It is often a very busy area with lots of patients and staff moving about, but ensuring you are safe and your privacy and dignity is maintained is the team’s priority.

You will be taken back to a ward when the recovery staff are satisfied that you are safely recovering normally. After some major operations you may need to be cared for in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or High Dependency Unit (HDU) areas. If this is planned, it will be discussed with you beforehand.

You can eat or drink after surgery according to the instructions of the surgeon and/or anaesthetist.