Eating and drinking before your anaesthetic

Wear warm clothes to the hospital and, in cold weather, heat up the car before you get in. Keeping warm before surgery can lower your chance of getting an infection.

Please shower and wash your hair prior to admission, particularly if you expect to be unable to do this for a few days after your operation. (We recommend that you do not have your hair permed or set immediately before coming into hospital for major surgery).

Please remove all make-up, nail polish, body piercings and jewellery prior to admission and do not apply moisturisers or hair gel. 

If applicable, please leave your medic alert bracelet / pendant on.

Transport

Please allow yourself plenty of time to get to the hospital. It is always better to be early rather than late and you will feel more relaxed. However, if unavoidable circumstances delay your arrival, please telephone us.

Please make arrangements for transport home after your surgery. You will not be able to drive or operate machinery for 24 hours following a general anaesthetic.

A Checklist

Finally, if there is anything else you would like to know, please telephone us.