Lawes Bridge Entrance Car Park C Main Entrance Day Surgery Unit Torbay TorbayHospital Hospital Day Day Surgery SurgeryUnit Unit Car Park E Car Park D Cadewell Lane Entrance Car Park A How to to prepare How prepare What to to expect What expect Torbay Hospital TQ2 7AA Thenearest nearest parking is available in Pay The parking is available in Pay and and Display Car Park A. Enter the Display Car Park A. Enter the unit throughunit the through the green door and follow signs up green door and follow signs up the lift or stairs. the lift or stairs. The Day Surgery Unit and the grounds are non-smoking. The Day Surgery Unit and the grounds are non-smoking. relatives and friends the League of ForFor relatives and friends the League of Friends Friends café is on Level 2 and the café is on Level 2 and the restaurant on Level 4. restaurant on Level 4. The Day Surgery Unit is a mixed sex area. Please contact the unit causes a area. The Day Surgery Unit ifisthis a mixed sexyou problem that wethe can tryiftothis help. Pleasesocontact unit causes you a problem so that we can try to help. How to prepare/Day surgery/ SDHCNHSFT/10.09/review date 10.11 How to prepare/Day surgery/ SDHCNHSFT/10.09/review date 10.11 Before you arrive Time in hospital The morning of your operation Your arrival If you are going to have a general anaesthetic or sedation, you must stop eating and drinking for a period beforehand. Specific instructions are given in your admission letter and must be followed carefully. Take all your tablets at the normal times - you may take a sip of water to help swallow them. Please come straight to the Day Surgery Unit (map on back of leaflet). It is important that you arrive on time. The receptionist will check your details and ask you to sit in the waiting room. Over the next hour you will see a nurse, your anaesthetist and your surgeon. You then return to the waiting room. Please bath or shower and remove make-up and nail varnish. Shortly before your operation, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown, your dressing gown and slippers. We recommend you stop smoking at least 2 days before surgery as this will improve your experience of the anaesthetic. Your operation and recovery Please bring the following: • Any tablets, medicines or inhalers you are taking • Dressing gown and slippers • Name and phone number of relative or friend collecting you after your operation • Something to read/keep you amused! • Warm clothes to wear whilst waiting for your operation • Money to pay for car parking (maximum charge £6.00) Do not bring anything valuable Your friend or relative may stay with you until the time of your operation when a nurse will walk with you to the anaesthetic room. They are then free to either remain in the unit or to leave, in which case we will telephone them when you are ready. After the operation, you wake up in the recovery area where you are cared for until the anaesthetic has fully worn off. You then have something to eat and drink and change back into your normal clothes. After a morning operation you will usually be ready to leave between 12 noon and 2 pm (although it may be later following certain operations). Following an afternoon operation you are usually ready between 5pm and 7pm. Leaving hospital On leaving hospital you are given: • Advice on caring for dressings • Pain killers • Advice and/or pressure stockings and/or injections to reduce blood clots • A discharge letter with contact details A friend or relative must collect you directly from the unit and accompany you home in a private car or taxi (bus is not appropriate). Hospital cars can be booked on 01803 654303 between 9am and 4.30pm weekdays. You must have a responsible adult to remain in your house overnight. A nurse will telephone you the following day to check how you are. For 24 hours after your operation Do Not • Drink any alcohol / take any sleeping medication. • Operate heavy machinery. • Make important decisions or sign legal documents. • Drive after a general anaesthetic or sedation. Do • Drink fluids and eat a light diet. • Take it easy on the day of the operation. • Take time off work if advised to do so.