Know when you should stop eating and drinking

Assessing your health

If there have been any recent changes in your health please ensure that your anaesthetist, surgeon or Royston nursing staff are advised at the earliest opportunity. For example, if you develop a cold, flu, infection, vomiting, diarrhoea, laceration or breakdown of skin, or suffer an asthma attack prior to your admission to hospital you should let one of the above know as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to postpone your operation.

Laboratory Screening

If you have been employed in a clinical care role, are a resident in a rest-home or long term care facility (excluding an independent unit) or have been admitted to any other hospital in New Zealand or overseas in the 6 months preceding your admission to Royston, pre-admission laboratory screening will need to be carried out. If your surgeon has not already discussed this with you, please phone your surgeon or Royston Hospital nursing staff at the earliest opportunity.

Medications

Discuss with your specialist any regular medications you are taking, and bring all your usual medications to hospital with you.

A detailed list from your general practitioner will help your doctors chart the correct medications for you.

Patients on anticoagulants need to take special care:

Aspirin or Disprin:

Failure to stop taking your anticoagulant medications as advised could result in your surgery being postponed.

Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs

We recommend that you avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs (other than those drugs your specialist prescribes) during the 24 hours prior to your admission.

A Checklist

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