Pre-operative assessment
Eating and drinking before your anaesthetic
- You cannot have any food for 5½ hours before your admission time.
- We would like you to drink clear fluids up to two hours prior to your admission to stop you becoming thirsty. Clear fluids include water, diluted still juice i.e. squash or cordial and tea or coffee without milk. Following this, do not drink anything further.
- Do not chew gum or suck sweets for at least two hours before your admission.
- Please take all of your usual medications unless you have been instructed otherwise. You are allowed a small amount of water to do this. If you are due to take your medication around your admission time, please do so prior to arrival.
Important
If you do not follow these instructions your operation will be delayed and possibly cancelled if it cannot be safely rescheduled.
Other instructions to follow
- You are recommended not to drink alcohol or smoke for 24 hours before your admission.
- You are not allowed to wear jewellery other than a plain wedding ring (including all body piercing), nail varnish (including toes), gel nails, makeup, hair products or hairspray.
- Following your general anaesthetic, you must not drive, drink alcohol or operate machinery for a minimum of 24 hours. This may be longer following certain types of surgery. After this time you should only resume these activities when you feel able to.
- If you are going home within 24 hours of your operation you must have someone to take you home and stay with you for the 24 hours.
- Please arrange your own transport home with a friend or relative. The admitting staff will confirm where you will be discharged from.
- Please bring all of your medication with you in the green bag provided by the pre-operative assessment team.
- You may require simple pain relief medication such as paracetamol after your discharge home. This can be purchased at your local pharmacy or supermarket as we do not routinely provide paracetamol or ibuprofen on prescription. You will be advised which pain relief medication is best for you.
If your health has changed since your pre-operative assessment
If you are unwell prior to your operation, please contact the hospital switchboard on 01642 850850 and ask to be put through to your consultants secretary.
- If you are having neurosurgery please contact the pre-operative assessment team on 01642 835762 or your consultant’s secretary.
- If you are having eye surgery telephone 01642 854556
- Other surgery 01642 854009
- The contact number for pre-operative assessment at the Friarage Hospital is 01609 764536
If you are taking medication to help prevent blood clots
If you are taking antiplatelet therapy such as clopidogrel, ticagrelor or antocoagulants such as warfarin, dabigatran or rivaroxaban, these medications sometimes need be stopped prior to your operation.
If you are required to stop any medication you will have been given instructions at pre-operative assessment. If in doubt please contact the pre-operative admission team to discuss.
Coming into hospital
Patients for admission can come alone, or may be accompanied by a relative or friend. If you are accompanied, the person may stay for a short length of time in the reception area only. This is to protect the privacy and dignity of other patients. The only exemption is for carers of patients with additional needs.
What to bring with you
If you are going home the same day as your operation we advise you bring a small bag with toiletries and reading material if required.
If you are transferring to a ward after your operation we advise that you bring only one small suitcase or bag (maximum size 50cm x 40cm x 20cm or 20” x 16” x 8”) containing
Dressing gown
Nightwear
Slippers or indoor footwear
Toiletries
Reading material if required
You may want to ask your relatives or friends to bring anything else you may need to the ward when they visit you later.
The trust cannot be held liable for the loss of or damage to, patients property (including money) unless it is handed in for safekeeping.
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]