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Patient Information

Prior to admission

Once you and your specialist have decided you will have your procedure at Chelsea Hospital, your time and date of surgery will be decided. Your specialist or Chelsea will provide you with an estimate of our costs.

You will be given an admission form to complete either online or paper form. Once completed this needs to forwarded or delivered to us as soon as possible. There is opportunity to identify any cultural needs or special needs like dietary or mobility on the admission form. You will receive information about your anaesthetic in your admission pack or online anaesthetic information form.

We may require you to be assessed by our anaesthetist prior to your operation or procedure. If this is the case you will be contacted by one of our specialist preadmission assessment nurses who will arrange an appointment for you.

We encourage you to start to begin planning for your return home and your recovery. Your specialist can provide information about expected recovery period which can help to plan what support or help you may need if any.

Planning for discharge from day surgery is very important as you must have someone with you for at least the first 24 hours or longer depending on what procedure you are having.

Please contact us at any time for any questions you may have.

What to bring

  • Pyjamas or night gown (if staying overnight).
  • All medications/drugs/inhalers that you may be taking – in their original packaging.
  • Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids.
  • Personal toiletries.
  • Dress comfortably in and causally in loose- fitting clothes.
  • Wear as little make-up as possible.
  • Avoid false/acrylic/painted nails.
  • Children should bring comfortable and clean pyjamas to wear to theatre as well as a favourite toy.
  • Details of your medical insurance including copies of letters of authorisation, approval and your membership number.

Valuables

We strongly recommend that you leave valuables at home including large sums of cash. You will be asked to remove all jewellery prior to going to the operating theatre unless it has special spiritual or sentimental value in which case it will be secured by the admitting nurse.

Admission process

You will receive a phone call from one of our nurses the day before your surgery. The nurse will tell when you need to arrive at Chelsea and when you need to stop eating and drinking if this is required.

You may have been provided with a special body wash to use if your surgery fits the criteria. You should shower with this on the day of your procedure before you come to hospital.

All patients coming to Chelsea may have as much or as little family involvement as they wish. When you arrive at Chelsea you will be greeted by the admin team and either asked to take a seat in our waiting area or shown directly to one of our admission rooms. Your nurse will introduce themselves and prepare you for surgery (admit you).

Your nurse will go over a number of things with you, including your health questionnaire and your medications, as well as a number of assessments designed to help to keep you safe while in hospital. You will be asked to provide your understanding of the procedure that you have provided consent for to ensure that you have a good understanding and have had enough information about the intended procedure or operation. Your vital signs will be taken and recorded and you will be provided with the correct attire to change into before you go to have your procedure or operation.

You will see both your specialist and your anaesthetist prior to going to theatre and will have the opportunity to ask any further questions.

During your stay

Meals

All of our meals are provided by a locally owned and run catering company and brought in fresh each day. The menu is seasonal and uses fresh local produce where possible. We are able to cater for all dietary needs or preferences. Just let us know.

Accommodation

Chelsea provides facilities for both overnight or longer stay patients (inpatients) as well as separate areas for any patients undergoing day stay procedures or surgeries. Our bedrooms have Sky TV as well as your own ensuite bathroom.
Some patients undergoing day stay procedures may be unable have visitors for the privacy of other patients at the hospital. If you are undergoing a day stay procedure or surgery please let your admission nurse know and we can arrange a private room if one is available.

Medications

We will obtain on your behalf a pharmacy or GP list of your prescribed medications. It is important that you let us know if you are also taking any natural or herbal remedies. We also need to know if you have any allergies or have had any adverse reactions to any medications previously.

A pre-medication may be given to you before you get to theatre. This is usually to help with pain relief when you wake up after your surgery. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will prescribe any medications you may need following your surgery and your nurse will assist you with taking these.

Discharge

Your surgeon will decide when you are able to go home following your procedure or surgery. Usual discharge time is around 10 am but later discharges can be arranged if required.

You will have received important discharge information in your admission pack the links to these are provided below.

Your discharge nurse and surgeon will provide information on activity, driving, diet etc. You will receive a discharge summary and we will send a copy to your GP as well. This outlines what you had done while at Chelsea and any further actions required.

You should have a follow-up appointment to see your surgeon following discharge as well as advice on where to seek help if required.

Please see Blood Clots and You for information about the prevention of DVT after your surgery.

Wound Care for information on preventing infection following surgery.

Discharge after day stay surgery for what you should and shouldn’t do following your day stay procedure or surgery.

Patient satisfaction survey

This will be provided to you just before you are discharged. We welcome your feedback and all surveys are collated and used for quality purposes. You can also complete this online below.

Patient satisfaction survey