Day of Surgery

Please carefully follow the instructions given to you for your day of surgery, including when to stop eating and drinking. On your arrival at Chelsea you will be greeted by a member of staff and shown to your room. Nursing staff will prepare you for your procedure. Members of the theatre team and the anaesthetist (if applicable) will visit you to further explain your theatre experience. While we aim to minimise the time between admission and going to theatre, on occasions there may be some unavoidable delay. We apologise in advance if this occurs. Many procedures, particularly those where you are required to stay as a day patient only, do not require you to be nursed in a bed. Instead a
La-Z-Boy chair is provided for your comfort. You may also be walked into theatre as opposed to being wheeled in on your bed. If you have a concern about this, please discuss it with your nurse.

What to bring

All medications including inhalers and herbal medicines you are currently taking.
Loose comfortable clothing.
Sleepwear and personal toiletries (if staying overnight).
X-rays, scans.
Personal aids, glasses, walking sticks, reading material etc.
Insurance "prior approval" documentation if relevant.
The patient Information Booklet.

What not to bring

Chelsea does not accept responsibility for loss of personal items. Please do not bring:

Valuables eg. money, jewellery

Our checking procedures

To ensure your safety during your stay you will be asked several times to confirm your name and other details. Your surgeon, anaesthetist and nursing staff also take a short time out to complete a final check immediately before your procedure/surgery begins.

Cultural, spiritual, emotional and individual care

During your stay you are welcome to:

request a visit from your Minister or ask Chelsea to contact one for you
request a visit from a kaumatua or ask to speak to him
ask for interpreter services
have your body parts/tissue returned to you. Staff are happy to discuss this with you and provide advice on collection procedures.

In the operating theatre

A nurse or anaesthetic technician will greet you when you arrive in the theatre suite. They will have some questions for you, probably similar to ones you have already been asked. This is part of our comprehensive checking procedure which provides you with another opportunity to tell us anything that you may not have remembered previously. Depending on your type of surgery, a variety of specialised equipment will be used during your operation/procedure. The team are happy to explain the function of these to you if you so wish.

You may be attached to specialised machines that help the team monitor you continually throughout your operation. These may include:

A blood pressure monitor(a cuff which is wrapped around your upper arm).
a pulse oximeter, which measures the oxygen in your blood(a probe gently grips your finger).
an ECG to monitor your heart(small patches are placed on your shoulders and left side of your body).
a small needle may be placed in the back of your hand to start your anaesthetic.
a mask through which you breathe oxygen and other gases.

After your operation

You will wake up in the recovery room with an oxygen mask and some monitoring equipment still connected to you to assist with your waking. A specially trained nurse will check you are all right as you recover from your anaesthetic. When you are assessed as ready, you will be transferred back to the ward.

Pain relief

Good pain relief is important. Your anaesthetist is responsible for your pain relief throughout your stay. Anaesthetists are trained in a range of methods to treat pain from simple physical methods to increase comfort and the prescription of tablets through to advanced technical procedures. Your anaesthetist will decide with you what is most suitable for you depending on the type of surgery you have had. To minimise pain and discomfort after surgery, both in the recovery room and once you have returned to your ward, your anaesthetist will have prescribed pain relief for you. Pain medication may be given to you by one or more of the following routes:

mouth
injection
infusion into the drip via a PCA machine (a special pump that delivers a set amount of painkiller into the drip when you push a button. The pump has a programmed limit to prevent overdose).
rectal suppository.

However, if you do experience any discomfort please call the nurse for assistance.

24 hours after your operation

If you go home on the day of your operation it is essential to have someone with you as the full effects of your anaesthetic may not wear off for 24 hours.
For your safety (and the safety of others) DO NOT drive a vehicle or use machinery or potentially dangerous household appliances after any general anaesthetic or sedation.
Do not eat a heavy meal, drink alcohol or take sleeping pills.
You should rest and leave important decisions for another day.
Do not lift heavy things or engage in strenuous exercise.

Discharge

In agreement with the doctor's instructions, the nurse will assess the point at which you are ready to be discharged and ensure all necessary documentation has been completed including:

prescriptions and take home medication
your discharge/ACC forms, X-rays, scans
follow up appointment details
your valuables.

A copy of your discharge summary will be sent to your GP so they are aware of what procedure you have had. If discharge occurs after 10:30am a late discharge fee may apply.

We will ring you a few days after your discharge to check on your progress. If you have any concerns or experience any problems when you go home it is important that you contact your surgeon, family doctor or Chelsea as soon as possible. In the event of a medical emergency, call an ambulance immediately (111).