Having an operation

Day surgery (or day case surgery) is an operation or surgical procedure that does not involve an overnight stay in hospital.

Our day surgery team is based in the Sunderland Day Case Centre, a specialist facility that is named after the flying boats once built on the River Medway. Trained specialist nurses ensure that you receive high quality, safe personal care throughout your stay.

Find us

Sunderland Day Case Centre
Green Zone
Level 1

Call: 01634 974599

Before your operation

Preparing for your day surgery

Please inform your consultant’s secretary as soon as possible if:

• you develop a cold, sore throat or any other illness
• you know you are pregnant or think you might be
• you will be unable to come in for any other reason

Please make sure that you have a friend or relative who can accompany you home after your operation. Remember that you will not be able to go home alone and that, following a general anaesthetic, you will not be able to drive for 48 hours. When you are planning your journey home, please remember that public transport is not suitable. We suggest that you use either private transport or a taxi.

On the day of your operation

Before you come in to the Sunderland Day Case Centre, please:

• bathe or shower and remove all nail varnish, makeup and jewellery.
• take any prescribed medication – a very small quantity of water can be taken with tablets.

If you are unsure or have any problems, please call us.

Please arrive at the Sunderland Day Case Centre reception at the time of your appointment where staff will check your details. If you have changed your GP recently, please inform the staff.

Eating and drinking

It is very important that you follow the instructions you are given about eating and drinking if you are going to have a general anaesthetic. These instructions are for your own safety and if you fail to follow them, your operation may be cancelled.

The ward area

Following your arrival, you will be allocated a bed space. Each bed space has its own clothes locker, easy chair and curtain screen. The ward area accommodates both men and women. If you have any concerns about mixed accommodation, please get in touch. Children are admitted to a separate ward area.

In the ward, nursing staff will weigh you, take your pulse and blood pressure and ask you questions about your health. Some patients may have attended a pre-assessment clinic before coming into the Sunderland Day Case Centre, but most patients will be assessed on admission. Medical staff will then see you to make sure that your details are correct before they start the operating session.

Your operation

There will usually be a short time to wait before your operation. Unfortunately, some patients will have to wait longer for their operation than others, but in the interests of safety and efficiency, this is unavoidable.

When it is time for your operation, a nurse will ask you to change into a gown and to get onto a trolley. The trolley will then be wheeled to the anaesthetic room. In the anaesthetic room, you will be given an injection into the hand or arm which will either send you to sleep or, if you are having a local anaesthetic, freeze the area to be operated on.

Consent to operation

Before you have your operation, you will be asked to sign a consent form. The doctor will discuss your operation with you before you sign the form. Please remember to raise any concerns you have about your operation during your discussion with the doctor.

Students

The Sunderland Day Case Centre has some doctors and nurses who are completing their training. We hope you will agree to be seen by these students. You do, however, have the right to refuse to be seen by students and this will not affect your treatment in any way.

After your operation

Once you are awake, you will return to the ward. When you are more alert, you will be offered some light refreshments.

When you are fully recovered, you will be discharged home. If you have had a general anaesthetic, the minimum time before discharge will be about two hours. Patients who have had a local anaesthetic may be well enough to leave sooner. The nurse looking after you will inform you of what to expect over the next few days and will give you some information about your operation and appropriate after care. You will be given any pain killing tablets that you may need together with a letter for your doctor.

Most patients are discharged after a few hours’ rest, but if for some reason you are not fit to go home, arrangements will be made for you to be admitted to a ward in the hospital.

If you have had a general anaesthetic, please remember:

• drugs remain in your body for up to 48 hours
• you must be accompanied home by an adult
• please try to rest for 24 to 48 hours
• you must not operate machinery or drive a car for 48 hours
• avoid alcohol
• drink plenty of fluids and eat a light diet
• take things easy
• do not make any important decisions for 48 hours.

Prescriptions

If you are prescribed medicines or tablets to continue at home, the hospital will provide an initial supply. If you need further supplies, you will be advised to contact your GP. Your prescription details will be included on the discharge letter sent to your GP.

Taxis home

After your appointment, if you need a taxi to take you home, we have a designated taxi phone situated at the front entrance of the hospital.