What to expect with planned surgery

Your journey through Trauma and Orthopaedics

We want to make this experience as comfortable as possible. We understand that coming in for surgery can be a significant experience, and we want to help you understand what to expect during your time with us. 

Before your admission

• Pre-admission call: The day before your scheduled surgery, a member of our team will call you to confirm your bed is available and provide you with a specific time to arrive at the hospital in the morning. This staggered arrival helps us manage patient flow and ensures you don't have to wait unnecessarily.

On the day of admission

• Arrival at the hospital: Please arrive at the time you were given. You will enter through the main entrance and come up to Level 1, where you will proceed directly to the admissions unit.
• Admissions unit: You will be welcomed into the admissions unit. It's important to know that you won't be allocated a bed immediately upon arrival.
• Initial assessment: You will be seen in a private consultation room by the consultant and the nurse. Here, we will go through your details, check your observations, and take any necessary blood samples. This private setting allows for confidential discussions.
• Transfer to theatre: After your assessment in the admissions unit, you will be taken to the theatre department. You will be encouraged to mobilise, either independently or with assistance, as this promotes independence and a quicker recovery time.

In theatre and recovery

When you arrive in theatre, the nursing staff will go through some safety checks and then take you into the anaesthetic room.

• Anaesthesia: The Anaesthetist will have already discussed with you before your surgery the type of anaesthetic you will have, this will be a spinal anaesthetic or a general anaesthetic. Your anaesthetic care is given in the anaesthetic room, and the theatre team then transfers you to theatre. Refer to the leaflet about anaesthesia types, such as spinal or general.
• Surgery: The length of the operation can typically last between 60-90 minutes but may vary depending on the complexity.
• Recovery: After your surgery, you will be taken to the recovery area. Here, you will be closely monitored by our nursing staff until you are stable and well enough to be transferred to the ward. 

On the ward

• Transfer to the ward: Once you are ready, you will be transferred to a ward, where a bed will be prepared for you. The nursing staff on the ward will then take over your care.
• Immediate post-operative care: We aim to get you mobile as quickly as possible after your surgery. A physiotherapist will see you soon after you return to the ward to start your rehabilitation exercises.
• Multidisciplinary team: During your stay on the ward, you will be cared for by a team of professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. They will work together to support your recovery and prepare you for going home.
• Preparing for discharge: Our goal is to get you back home as soon as it is safe and appropriate.

Going home and follow-up

1. Discharge: Before you leave the hospital, you will be given detailed information about your aftercare, including exercises to continue at home.
2. Urgent Nurse Clinic (Single point of contact): You will be given contact details for our Urgent Nurse Clinic, which is a single point of contact for any concerns you may have after you go home. Please don't hesitate to call them if you have any questions or worries.
3. GP follow-up: You will usually need to see your GP around 10-14 days after your surgery to have any skin staples removed if these were used. The staff will discuss with you how to do this prior to discharge.

Orthopaedic clinic follow-up

Depending on your consultant's instructions, you will also have a follow-up appointment with us in the Orthopaedic clinic, typically between 6 and 12 weeks after your surgery.

Our team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible care and support throughout your journey. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have at any stage of your treatment.