Your admission
for day surgery
Adult Day Surgery Unit (ADSU)
Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) Reading
West Berkshire Community Hospital
(WBCH) Thatcham
Useful information for patients
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust London Road Reading Berkshire RG1 5AN 0118 322 5111 (switchboard)West Berkshire Community Hospital
London Road, Benham Hill Thatcham
Berkshire RG18 3AS 01635 273300
ADSU_491
ADSU / Pre-operative Assessment, April 2014 Review due: April 2016
This booklet contains useful information and advice for
patients coming in for day surgery under general or local
anaesthetic. If you have any queries or concerns, please
speak to a member of staff
.
Who to contact
If there is any change in your health between your pre-operative
assessment and the date of your surgery, or if you are unsure whether to take any regular medication before you are admitted, please contact the hospital you are being admitted to and discuss with a nurse:
Pre-op Assessment Clinic (RBH): 0118 322 6546.
or West Berkshire Community Hospital (WBCH) on 01635 273492/3/4.
Please contact the Waiting List Office by telephone, if:
- There is any change in your personal information (address, telephone number, change of GP);
- You decide not to undergo your planned surgery; - You go for your surgery elsewhere;
- You wish to change the date of your surgery.
*WBCH Waiting List Office: 01635 273393 / 5
*Orthopaedic Waiting List Office: 0118 322 7428/7379/7569/8432/8974 *General Surgery Waiting List Office: 0118 322 7774/8158
*Urology Waiting List Office: 0118 322 7330 *Eye Surgery Waiting List office: 0118 322 7146 *Maxillofacial Waiting List Office: 0118 322 7667
* Nurse to indicate correct number
Blood tests and medication
If for some reason this is not possible then you will be given the letter
to convey to your GP at your earliest opportunity. − Please have your blood test within 1 week*/ 2 weeks* of your admission date. *(Pre-operative assessment nurse to delete as appropriate).
Remember to take the request form given to you at
pre-assessment. You can have your blood test done at the Pathology Department in the Royal Berkshire Hospital or West Berkshire Community Hospital.
Any medication which has been prescribed for you will be given along with verbal instructions on how to take it.
The nurse will also give you information and advice regarding follow-up appointments, removal of stitches, care of your wound etc.
− The Trust no longer provides basic pain relief medicines, such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for patients to take home. Please ensure that you have a supply of these painkillers at home to take
following your discharge. If stronger pain relief is required, then it will be provided. If you have an allergy to these medications please discuss with your own doctor before your admission.
Returning to work
This depends on what your job involves and the type of surgery you have had; your doctor can advise you.
If you need a medical certificate (sick note) for your employer, please ask the nurse before your operation.
− You will also need to bring in any medicines that you take regularly in the original packaging.
During the first 24 hours following your discharge
If you have any further concerns about your surgery, please telephone:
Before you come in
ADSU: Tel: 0118 322 7622 / 8215 or Fax: 0118 322 8214
It is important that you make arrangements for a reliable adult to: WBCH: Tel: 01635 273492 / 3 / 4 or Fax: 01635 273502
- To be available to come and collect you at the time requested by the day surgery staff on the day of your admission, and who must be available to look after you for 24-hours following your discharge from hospital.
If you need help or advice outside the opening hours (page 6) please telephone your community duty GP
After 24 hours, please seek advice from your own GP.
- Receive discharge advice and information about your care at home.
For more information about the Trust, visit our website www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk
- Take you home by private car or taxi, as you will not be able to drive yourself home, travel on public transport or unaccompanied in a taxi.
Failure to ensure you have a designated reliable adult to act on your behalf and care for you as described above may mean that your surgery is cancelled.
If you wish, at ADSU, your relative or friend may stay with you during your admission; however, space is limited and other patients’ privacy has to be observed.
You will not normally see the surgeon after your operation unless he/she has a particular reason to visit you.
At WBCH we do not allow relatives or visitors into the ward area as there is a serious shortage of space; however after admission, the patients are welcome to sit in the waiting area until they are called down to theatre.
After your operation
Anaesthesia – Please be aware that the drugs used in general anaesthesia can stay in your system for 24 hours and can cause tiredness and lack of concentration.
Please read your ‘Coming into hospital’ booklet and surgery information. Please follow the instructions given to you by the pre-operative assessment nurse.
Therefore, for 24-hours following your discharge you must not: − Go to work;
− Drive a car or any other motor vehicle;
Anaesthetic
− Ride a bicycle;Your operation will be carried out under general or local anaesthetic. For further information see the ‘Coming into hospital’ booklet.
− Operate any machinery or electrical equipment (including kettles and cookers);
You will be able to go home the same day unless there are any difficulties with the surgery or with your recovery.
− Make any important decisions or sign any documents; − Drink alcohol;
In these cases you will then be transferred to a ward until you are
ready to go home. − Make yourself inaccessible to the person who is looking after you. − Please ensure that they have easy access to a telephone in case
of an emergency. WBCH patients who require an overnight stay will have their surgery at
RBH. There are no facilities for staying overnight at the community hospital.
Discharge home
Patients who do not recover sufficiently, or have a problem, will be
transported by ambulance to RBH. The unit nursing staff will continue to assess your progress until they
are assured of your fitness to go home.
Length of stay
They will then discuss discharge information with you and your escort;please tell the nurse if you have any concerns or questions. You will normally be in hospital several hours post operatively but it will
depend on which operation you have, the type of anaesthetic and the amount of time you take to recover.
If we have contact with your GP on our computers, a letter explaining your care will be emailed to them.
Admission times and pre-operative nutrition information
Please tell the nurse if you have any special requirements or anxieties
about your operation. For directions please refer to the map provided in your pre-operative information booklet (ADSU) or additional leaflet for WBCH patients. You will then be seen by the surgeon or a member of their team, who
will discuss the proposed operation with you. *7.30 / *8 am admission: Please remember, you must not have anything to eat after 2.30am. However, you should continue to drink clear fluids until 6.30am on the morning of your admission.
Please plan your travel into hospital so that you arrive at the day unit no later than *7.30 / *8am
The operating list will commence at *8.30 /*9 am The anaesthetist who will be looking after you during your operation
will also visit you to discuss your anaesthetic.
Going into theatre
You will walk with a nurse to the anaesthetic room where you will be asked to remove your dressing gown and slippers and to lie on a trolley. If you feel that you may have difficulty walking to the anaesthetic room, please discuss your concerns with your nurse.
11am admission: Please remember, you must not have anything to eat after 5.00am. However, you should continue to drink clear fluids until 9.00am on the morning of your admission.
Please plan your travel into hospital so that you arrive at the day unit no later than 11.00am
Recovering after your operation
You will wake up in the recovery suite where you will be looked after by a recovery nurse. You may be given oxygen to breathe and regular recordings of your blood pressure and oxygen levels will be made.
*12.30 / *1 pm admission: Please remember, you must not have anything to eat after 7.30am (this means you may have a light
breakfast on the day of admission). However you may have clear fluids only to drink until 11.30am.
Please plan your travel into hospital so that you arrive at the day unit no later than 12.30pm. The operating list will commence at *1.30 / *2pm.
The nurse will also ask you about pain and monitor your wound if applicable.
When the recovery nurse is satisfied with your progress they will report information about the operation, anaesthetic and observations to a day surgery nurse.
* (Pre-operative nurse to delete as appropriate)
You will then be transferred on the trolley back to the unit by a porter,
accompanied by your day surgery nurse.
Clear fluids
Clear fluids include: water, black tea and black coffee (a small
teaspoon of sugar or sweetener is permitted), well diluted squash (but not fruit juice) – you should be able to read newsprint through it. When you are back on the unit, nursing staff will continue to monitor
your progress.
If you feel well enough, you may be offered fluids and light foods. Please do not suck sweets or chew gum on the day of your operation. Failure to follow these instructions will cause a delay in your surgery or your surgery being cancelled.
You may also be seen by other healthcare staff, such as physiotherapists, depending on your operation.
What to bring with you
Both units are for adult patients undergoing various types of surgery. The Adult Day Surgery Unit consists of five bays with a mixture for up to 33 trolleys and 2 chair spaces.Please have a bath or shower before your admission, and wear loose-fitting clothes, and flat comfortable shoes.
The WBCH Day Surgery Unit consists of 12 trolley spaces and 6 reclining chairs as a step down area. There are 2 single wards. Small lockers are available for your clothing. Please bring with you:
- A clean dressing gown and slippers;
Patients stay for varying lengths of time, depending on the type of surgery and anaesthesia.
- Something to occupy your time, e.g. book, newspaper,
The contact telephone numbers for your next of kin and your escort.
There is only a small number of staff working on the unit. They work as a team to provide continuity of care. We all hope to make your stay with us as pleasant as possible.
Personal property:
Please leave valuable items at home, i.e. large sums money,
expensive jewellery etc.
Accommodation
The Trust is not liable for and does not take responsibility for damage
to, loss or theft of your private property. The Day Surgery Units are mixed gender wards but we nurse male and female patients in separate bays. There are also separate toilet facilities. We rarely have to mix patients; if this is likely to happen, you will be told on admission.
Where to go
Patients at WBCH are told prior to admission regarding mixed gender facilities. The ward is split between male and female patients, but there is no wall dividing the areas. There are two side rooms available if necessary.
− ADSU is situated on Level 3, South Block, Royal Berkshire Hospital and can be accessed by using the lifts or stairway leading from level 2; please refer to the map provided in your information pack for directions.
Please speak to staff if you have any concerns. − WBCH Day Surgery Unit is situated on the first floor, and accessed
via the main entrance; please refer to the map provided in your
information pack for directions.
Getting ready for your operation
You will be shown to your trolley or chair and asked to change into an operating gown and your hospital identification band will be applied.
About Day Surgery Units
A member of the nursing staff will then ask you a few routine questions and record your blood pressure, temperature and any other
observations that may be needed. The Day Surgery Units are open as follows:
RBH from 7.30am to 10.00pm (Mon-Fri), 7.30am to 4.00pm (Sat). WBCH from 8am to 6pm (Mon-Fri).
