Day surgery patient information

If you're visiting us for a treatment that can be undertaken within 6 hours, and won't be staying overnight, you'll be doing so as a daycase patient. We've set out some important information on how to prepare for your visit.  

If you require an interpreter during your visit, please contact our pre-admissions team before you arrive and they will arrange for one you. You can reach them on 020 7908 3650.  

Each of our en-suite rooms are filled with home comforts, like complimentary wi-fi, satellite television and a telephone. We also recommend bringing the following with you: 

• comfortable clothes to wear after your procedure
• wide-fitting clothes if you're having vein, knee or ankle surgery
• books, magazines and other things to pass the time
• any personal medication
• any previous X-rays
• mobile phone (although, in some areas of the hospital, using a mobile phone is not allowed) 

We recommend you do not bring any of the following with you:

• valuables like jewellery or unnecessary cheque books or bank cards (the hospital will not assume liability for these)
• large amounts of food
• large sums of cash

If you need to bring certain valuables into the hospital, please make sure that you are fully covered by your own insurance.

Small items can be locked away in our hospital safe. The safe can be accessed between 9.00am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. 

You may have been asked to fast before your procedure. Fasting means not eating or drinking for a certain amount of time. Fasting is usually necessary for surgical procedures involving a general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep. Your consultant will let you know how long you need to fast for during your pre-operation screening, which will normally happen at a date prior to your actual operation.

After reporting to our main reception, a friendly member of staff will show you to your room. A nurse will then visit you to make sure you're settling in okay. They'll also take your medical history, temperature and blood pressure. If you've brought any X-ray(s) or medication with you, please give these to your nurse. Please let them know if you have any allergies.  

The consultant who arranged your admission will oversee your clinical care throughout your stay. They or your nurse will also be on-hand to answer any questions you have. You can also expect:

• access to a qualified doctor, 24 hours a day
• access to intensive care specialists, 24 hours a day
• nurse specialists to provide pre- and –post procedure care and support
• fully-trained ward nurses
• on-site pharmacists  

If you are having day surgery, your consultant and nurse will be able to advise an approximate time of discharge once you have arrived, day surgery patients are discharged after the consultant have seen you and assessed your recovery. You may not feel well enough to drive or take public transport, so we'd recommend you arrange for someone to pick you up. If this isn’t possible, we will happily arrange a taxi for you.

If you've accrued extra charges during your stay, you can pay for them before you leave at the Cashier's Office on the ground floor. If you're not able to do this when you leave, we can send settle your outstanding balance online, or by post or email.