Preparing for Admission

Your specialist will have arranged the date for your operation. You will be required to complete a Chelsea Hospital admission form which needs to be presented at the hospital at least seven days before your operation. It is important that you answer the questions in this form about your past and present health status as accurately and fully as possible. The nursing team and anaesthetist use this information to help them plan your care. If any of the information changes before your admission, please notify the hospital immediately.

It is important that you:

arrange for someone to collect you from the hospital on discharge as you are not allowed to drive for 24 hours following a general anaesthetic or sedation
do not wear make-up or nail polish on the day of admission
do not smoke, if you are a smoker, for at least 24 hours before surgery
avoid activities which may cause you to get cuts or scratches, as this may result in your surgery being cancelled on the day due to infection risks
discuss with your surgeon any assistance you may need after your discharge. Your surgeon will notify Chelsea staff of any needs.

Your written consent for treatment is required. Your surgeon will provide you with information about your procedure/operation and explain the possible risks and effects before your admission.
If you have any concerns or questions, it is important that you raise these before your admission or at any stage during your stay.

Pre-admission

You may need to be assessed by the anaesthetist before your admission. If this is the case, Chelsea will contact you and provide an appointment before your admission date.

All patients are telephoned by a nurse before surgery. The nurse will conduct a telephone assessment, give specific instructions regarding admission time, when to stop eating, drinking and management of your regular medication. If you have any special requirements, requests or concerns, please raise them at this point or contact Chelsea at your convenience. Unfortunately we are usually only able to provide your admission time the evening before your surgery. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

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