Elective Surgery - Adult
Pa
tient Information
Surgical Admissions Unit, Wellington Regional Hospital
INFORMATION
This information is designed to provide you with
If you are due for your surgery or
some information about the Surgical Admissions
procedure on a morning or all day list
Unit to make your experience with us as pleasant
Stop all food (including milk) from
2am (the
as possible.
night before)
Before you come to hospital
After
2am, continue with just water until
6am.
You will be contacted by the hospital between
If still awake it is safe to drink one glass or cup
2-4pm the day before your surgery for a final
of water per hour. An easy idea is to have a
check and instructions. If your surgery is on a
glass or cup of water after you wake up, and
Monday, you will be contacted on the Friday
have it finished by
6am
before. Phone (04) 8060962 if you have not
Then nothing at all by mouth after
6am - no
heard from the hospital by 4pm.
liquids, chewing gum, sweets or lollies.
Make sure you can be reached by phone.
If you are due for your surgery or
Please have a bath or shower the morning of
your surgery.
procedure on an afternoon list
You can have a light breakfast (such as toast,
If you are having day surgery it is important
cereal, fruit, milk, tea, coffee) the morning of
that you have organised a ride home as it is
your surgery or procedure, but it must be
not safe for you to drive.
finished by
6.30am.
Not fatty or fried food.
You must have a responsible adult to stay with
After
6.30am, continue with just water until
you overnight for your safety.
10.30am. It is safe to drink one glass or cup of
If these arrangements have not been made
water per hour. Have your last glass of water
your surgery may be cancelled.
finished by
10.30am.
If you are a breastfeeding mother, please ask
Then nothing at all by mouth after
10.30am -
for advice about how to manage breastfeeding
no liquids, chewing gum, sweets or lollies.
around your procedure. Telephone the
Lactation Consultants on (04) 806 0897 or
Taking medicines and pills
(04) 806 0896 between the hours of 8.30am –
If you have been given special instructions
5.00pm Monday - Friday.
about some medication, please follow those
Eating and drinking
instructions otherwise:
It is important for your safety to follow these
Take all your routine medication by mouth within
eating & drinking instructions carefully -
the time you are allowed to drink water. If you find
otherwise your surgery or procedure could be
you have to take something (or are asked by
delayed or cancelled.
medical or nursing staff to take something) that
might be less than 2 hours before your procedure,
It is important to stop eating and drinking at the
you may take sips (up to 30mls) of water to help
correct times.
Early enough to allow your stomach
swallow tablets.
to be empty but late enough to keep you
hydrated.
Special Instructions
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CapDocs ID: 1.101054 Issue date: March 2018 Review date: January 2020
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Things to bring with you
Smoking
Your medicines and tablets (in original packets
Smoking is not allowed in the hospital or on the
if possible).
hospital grounds.
Relevant X-rays if you have them.
If you smoke, stopping at least 48 hours before
your surgery reduces the risk of breathing
Your health passport (if you have one).
problems and helps with quicker recovery. If
Toiletries.
you cannot stop smoking, cutting down will
Nightwear if staying overnight.
help.
Adequate loose warm clothing to wear after
If you would like help to quit or to reduce the
your operation on the ward and home.
amount you smoke, you can:
A book or magazine to help you pass the time
Request referral to the Capital and Coast DHB
while you wait.
Smoking Cessation Service
Electronic devices such as Cellphones, IPods,
Talk to a doctor, nurse or midwife.
IPads, Laptops, & Portable DVD Players are
Phone Quitline, Aukati Kaipaipa, or Pacific
permitted in some areas of the hospital. Such
Smoking Cessation on;
devices are brought in at owners risk. Please
o Quitline: 0800 778 778
check with staff in the area before using these.
o Aukati Kaipaipa 0800 926 257
Please be mindful of others around you.
o Pacific Smoking Cessation 04 237 8422
Things to leave at home
On the day of your surgery
Please leave money, valuables, jewellery or body
Checking In
piercing jewellery at home.
Check in at the main reception desk in the atrium
at the time given. The reception desk is just inside
A Religious medal or body taonga that you do not
the main entrance of the hospital from Riddiford
want to leave at home could be given to your
Street. When coming in from the underground car
support person for safe keeping. Or you can ask
park lifts (the orange lift is the closest) it is on Level 2.
for it to be taped close by you during surgery.
Things you must do
Staff at the desk will check that your details are
correct and then they will show you the way to the
If you start to feel unwell before your surgery;
Surgical Admissions Unit.
Phone (04) 806 0962 between 7am – 5pm or
(04) 806 0982 after 5pm for advice.
Your reporting time is the time we require to
If you feel there is a reason for not keeping
prepare you for your operation not your actual
your surgery date:
operation time.
Phone (04) 806 0962 between 7am – 5pm or
(04) 806 0982 after 5pm for advice
You will be assigned to a nurse. You will be taken
to a private room where the pre-surgery checks
Dress in warm clothing and keep warm on the
will be carried out.
day of your surgery, as this will help with your
recovery.
Safety checks
Some things not to do
Several people will ask you to state your name
and date of birth. This is to be sure you are the
Do not wear face make-up or nail polish
right person having the right operation.
Do not apply lotions, perfumes, hair products
or powders.
You will be asked questions about your health,
Do not come in with wet hair on the day of
medications, and any other information required
your surgery.
before your surgery. You will have your
temperature, blood pressure and heart rate
taken, and a height and weight measurement. (If
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[continued]
no recent observation measurement has been
Transport
recorded).
Can I drive myself home?
NO. Because you had an anaesthetic,
you must
When required your surgeon will mark the
have a responsible adult to take you home and
operation site or side on your skin before the
remain with you overnight.
operation. You and your support person can
check it is where you are expecting. This is to be
It is important to let nursing staff know before
sure you have the right procedure at the right
your surgery if you have concerns about
place on your body.
transport or help at home.
Can I use public transport to get home?
It is recommended that women of child bearing
NO. Because you had an anaesthetic,
you must
age are offered a pregnancy test prior to any
have a responsible adult to take you home and
surgical procedure. With some surgeries there
remain with you overnight.
would be serious risks to the unborn child. The
There are only 1-2 surgeries when using public
nursing staff will discuss this further with you on
transport would be ok. It is best to avoid any
the day of your admission.
problems by having a responsible adult to take
you to and from hospital.
Can I bring family to Hospital with me?
Yes, it is a good idea to ask a member of your
It is important to let nursing staff know before
family or whanau or a close friend to come and
your surgery if you have concerns about
wait with you before your operation. You can ask
transport or help at home.
your support person to be present for the pre-
surgery checking processes.
What else should I know about after my
For safety and privacy reasons visitors are not
anaesthetic?
permitted in the Operating Theatre or Recovery
You should not make any important decisions,
(Post anaesthesia Care Unit - PACU) areas.
sign documents, drive a car or operate dangerous
equipment, for 24 hours after your surgery and
What happens after my operation?
anaesthetic. Your nurse or doctor will discuss
After your surgery you will go to recover in Post
these things with you and tell you how much you
anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and stay there for a
will be able to do when you get home. He/she will
while as you start to wake up. The nurse looking
also advise you about your medications.
after you will make sure you are safe and
comfortable.
Will my surgery happen on time?
We will do everything we can to ensure that you
When you are fully awake, you will be moved to
have your operation at the time you are
Second Stage Recovery (SSR) if you are going home
expecting.
the same day or staying for one night. Second
There could be a delay, or your operation may
Stage Recovery is on the same floor as the Surgical
need to be changed to another day if an earlier
Admissions Unit.
operation takes longer than expected.
If you are requiring a ward stay, you will be moved
If there is a short delay, you may need to wait
onto a bed after your surgery in Theatre, and
longer in the waiting room. If your operation
transferred on your bed from PACU to the Surgical
needs to be changed to another day, a new date
Ward. Your belongings will remain with you for the
and time for your surgery will be arranged as soon
duration of your time in the perioperative and
as possible. This new date and time will be sent
post- operative unit. Meals will be provided for
out to you in the mail.
your stay in the Surgical Ward.
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[continued]
Where can we park the car?
The Main car park is underground beneath the
Regional Hospital Building off Riddiford Street
(Level 1). Parking is charged and paid at the
machines in the lift access areas on Level 1 before
leaving. You should allow plenty of time to park.
How was this experience for you?
If you wish to make any comments or suggestions
regarding your visit please fill in a feedback form
or speak to a member of staff.
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