Surgery and Day Surgery Services

Planned surgery usually follows consultation and treatment by your GP and specialist. From either of these you will be referred to an appropriate surgeon. Your surgeon will discuss surgical and other options with you, and if you agree to have a surgical procedure the surgeon will forward the appropriate documentation to the Calvary Surgical Admissions Team.

The urgency of your surgery, and the possible wait before your surgery is scheduled, is determined by your surgeon and advised to Calvary in the surgeon’s request for admission documents. If you have any concerns about the possible impact on your health and wellbeing caused by a possible delay, please raise those concerns with your surgeon.

Unplanned surgery is performed on people who are admitted via the Emergency Department and who require immediate surgery to address their health emergency.

For all surgical procedures you will be required to provide your Informed Consent for the surgery or procedure to be performed. In the event of emergency surgery, your nominated next-of-kin or Enduring Power of Attorney is able to provide consent on your behalf.

At the Calvary Public Hospital Bruce Pre-Admission Clinic, patients and their carers are prepared for the whole hospital journey. Our goal is to ensure you fully understand the procedure or surgery you are to undergo and to assess your health and personal circumstances to ensure that you have a positive stay with us.

Once we receive your Request for Admission from your specialist, we contact you to either arrange an appointment time for a consultation with a specialist Anaesthetist or Registered Nurse, or we conduct a telephone interview to check your health history. We inform you of any tests or other consultations that may be needed prior to your hospital stay. We also discuss and initiate the discharge planning process to ensure your safe return home.

We recommend you take the following steps before your surgical procedure:

• Ensure someone can drive you home after surgery (you’re not permitted to leave alone or use public transport)
• Arrange to have someone stay with you on the day and night of the surgery
• Don’t smoke for at least 24 hours before your procedure
• Follow instructions on which medications to take and which to withhold (this information will be given to you 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery date)
• Notify us if you have any special dietary requirement
• Inform your surgeon if there is any change in your health leading up to your procedure (for example if you’ve had a cold or fever)

Calvary Community Care can can arrange a pick up from the hospital, help with with the practical arrangements of returning home from hospital, and can also help give support during your recovery.

HOSPITAL TO HOME

We recommend you:

• Wear loose comfortable clothing
• Don’t wear make-up, nail polish or jewellery
• Bring all your medications, relevant x-rays referrals and information about your procedure
• Bring basic toiletries and reading material