• McIndoe Surgical Centre
• Patient Journey
• Before you arrive

3. Before you arrive

After your consultant has booked you into Mclndoe Surgical Centre, the Admissions Department will provide you with written confirmation of your admission.

This letter will include the following information:

• The time you are due to arrive at the hospital
• Restriction on eating and drinking appropriate to your procedure
• A registration form for your completion and return to us
• A medical questionnaire for your completion and return to us
• A pre-paid envelope
• Any relevant patient advice leaflets providing information regarding your procedure

To ensure that you have a smooth admission, it is important that you complete and return the registration form and the medical questionnaire in the pre-paid envelope as soon as possible. If you do not have time to send it back, please bring it with you on your admission.

Please check all your documentation carefully, including the time and date of your admission. In some instances where the order of the operating list has not been finalised some patients may be asked to phone the hospital the working day prior to admission to obtain their admission time and starving details.

If you are claiming from an insurance company for your procedure it is your responsibility to contact them well in advance of your admission, to check that you are adequately covered. You may also be provided with a pre authorisation number, please bring this with you on admission.

For further details regarding the payment process. please see the section on payment information.

If you are a ,'wheelchair user or have any disability you think we should be aware of. please contact the ward via the main hospital switchboard on 01342 330300. .Whho will be happy to discuss individual needs.

If you require any further information before you arrive, please contact our Admissions Department between 08.OOam and 1.00 pm, Monday to Friday direct on 01342 330323.

Pre-admission clinic

The hospital will contact you if we feel you should be medically assessed, to arrange an appointment prior to your admission for routine tests such as blood tests, an ECG or a chest x-ray. During the assessment. your medical history will be discussed and the relevant tests will be carried out. Our pre-assessment sister will endeavour to contact all other patients with a telephone call.

Preparing for admission

You will need to:

• Follow your fasting/starving instructions
• Reduce or stop smoking prior to admission and during your stay
• Remove all nail varnish;'extensions from your fingers and toes
• Shower or bath prior to admission but do not apply any body lotions, skin creams or facial make up.

Please do not drive yourself to the hospital as anaesthetic drugs may impair your judgement and prevent a safe journey home. Driving a car within 48 hours of an anaesthetic will also affect the cover on your car insurance policy. It is also important that you arrange for someone to accompany you to your home after your operation and have a responsible adult to stay with you for 24 hours.

Medication

Please bring any medication that you are taking (along with the repeat prescription) including inhalers, eye drops. contraceptive. herbal and homeopathic pills etc, in the packaging in which they were originally dispensed, and give it to your nurse on arrival.

If you are a diabetic and wish to bring your own equipment please do so. although the hospital is fully equipped to treat diabetic patients.

If you are allergic to certain medication and are uncertain of the name please check with your GP so that you can advise the nurse on arrival.

Valuables

We request that you do not bring any valuables or jewellery with you into the hospital. If you do, we do not accept liability for them under any circumstances.

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