Having an operation as a day case patient (under a local anaesthetic)

Please read all of this leaflet carefully

This leaflet is for patients coming into hospital for day surgery, under a local anaesthetic. The leaflet will explain the following.

• What day surgery and local anaesthetic are.

• How to prepare for your surgery.

• What happens when you arrive at the hospital.

• The locations of our Day Surgery Centres and Surgical Admissions Lounges.

• How you may feel afterwards.

If after reading this leaflet you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Pre-assessment on 01233 616602.

What is day surgery?

Day surgery is when a patient has their operation on the day of admission to hospital, and is discharged home on the same day. Back at home they are looked after by relatives or friends.

What is local anaesthetic?

Local anaesthesia involves injections that numb a small part of your body. It is normally used for minor procedures. You be awake the whole time but free from pain. Local anaesthetic is commonly administered by the surgeon undertaking the operation.

Your surgeon will inject the local anaesthetic around the area to be treated. The injection will sting for a short time, but the operation should be pain free. Please let the doctor or nurse know if you feel any discomfort during your procedure, as extra anaesthetic can be given if needed.

How long will I be in hospital for?

This depends on the operation list, but could it be up to 6 hours.

What should I do before I come into hospital for my procedure?

• Eat breakfast or lunch before coming into hospital.

• Shower or bathe, as you may not be able to for a few days after your surgery.

• Wear comfortable clothes.

• Please bring a dressing gown and slippers, as you may be asked to wear a surgical gown.

• If your procedure is on your face, do not wear make-up.

• Do not drive after your procedure. Please arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure, unless you have been told otherwise.

• Holidays / Special events. You may have a wound dressing that needs to be removed at a follow-up appointment, which may be difficult if you are going away within 1 to 2 weeks of your surgery. Please let us know if you have any events coming up.

• Think about taking time off work if you do a physical job. If you are unsure, please speak to your surgeon.

• Smoking can affect your ability to heal well. Avoid smoking for at least 2 weeks before and after your surgery. If you need support to stop smoking, please contact One You Kent.

  • One You Kent
    Telephone: 0300 123 1220
    Email

• Allergies: please let your admitting nurse know if you have any allergies to medicines or latex. It is unlikely to affect your surgery, unless you have had a bad reaction to local anaesthetic.

• Let us know before the day of your surgery if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator. These may affect what equipment we can use, but we should not need to cancel your surgery.

• Drugs and medication.

  • Certain drugs or medications may affect your surgery. Please make sure you bring to hospital a list of the drugs prescribed for you by your doctor. Include any over-the-counter medications, such as vitamins that you may buy yourself. Do not bring in your medications unless they are needed.

  • Let us know if you are taking blood thinning medication or anti-clotting agents. These include Warfarin, rivaroxaban, aspirin, or clopidogrel. These do not always need to be stopped, but it is important to let us know if you take these.

  • Some over-the-counter medications may increase your risk of bleeding. Please do not take these for at least 1 week before and after your operation. This includes vitamins (such as vitamin E) and herbal supplements (such as gingko or garlic). Please speak to your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

• Please do not bring large sums of money or valuables into hospital. East Kent Hospitals accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage to personal property, unless the property has been handed in to Trust staff for safe-keeping.

The locations of the Day Surgery Centres and Surgical Admissions Lounges

Below are instructions on how to find our Day Surgery Centres and Surgical Admissions Lounges.

Canterbury Day Surgery Centre, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury

Ophthalmology Theatre Suite, Kent and Canterbury Hospital Canterbury

• Enter the doors at the Outpatients entrance to the hospital.

• Go past the Outpatients reception desk, and follow the corridor down to the bottom.

• Turn left and the Ophthalmic Theatre Suite is down the corridor on your right hand side.

• If you come to Pathology, you have passed the Ophthalmic Theatre Suite.

Day Surgery, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital Margate

If arriving by car, park in the pay and display car park outside the St. Peter’s Road entrance (the old hospital entrance).

• Enter the main doors of the St. Peter’s Road entrance.

• Opposite the doors, you will see a staircase. Go up the staircase.

• Opposite the top of the staircase (slightly to the right) you will see a glass window. Behind this is the Day Surgery reception.

For patients needing to use a lift

• Turn left after entering the main doors of the St. Peter’s Road entrance.

• Walk 100 yards to the lift on the right hand side of the corridor.

• Enter the lift and go to the first floor.

• Exit the lift and turn left into the Day Surgery ward.

1. 
   St Peter's Road hospital entrance, QEQM
2. 
   Stairs to Day Surgery
3. 
   Day Surgery entrance

Surgical Admissions Lounge, QEQM Hospital Margate

• Enter through the Ramsgate Road entrance.

• Go straight down the corridor and take the stairs on your left up to the first floor.

• Turn left through the doors and follow the corridor all the way down to the end. The Surgical Admissions Lounge reception is on your left.

1. 
   Ramsgate Road hospital entrance
2. 
   Surgical Admissions Lounge QEQM entrance

Channel Day Surgery Centre, William Harvey Hospital Ashford

If you are coming on foot from the main hospital car park, please ask for directions at the main hospital reception desk.

• Follow signs on the floor for Navy Zone, for the Rotary Suite.

• At the end of the corridor turn right.

• Go past the stairs and enter the double doors to the left (which are opposite the lifts).

• Follow this all the way along to the Rotary Suite reception.

• Turn left and take the stairs / lift down to Channel Day Surgery. Reception is directly in front of you.

What happens when I arrive at the hospital?

• After arriving at the Day Surgery Centre or Surgical Admissions Lounge you will be seen by a nurse. They will ask you questions, and take your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature.

• The nurse will put a wristband on each of your wrists, listing your name and other details.

• You may be asked to change into a cotton theatre gown and your dressing gown.

• You may be seen by a member of the surgeon’s team, who will ask further questions and briefly examine you.

• If appropriate, the site of the operation will be marked.

• You will be asked to sign your consent form, if this has not already been done.

Why do I need to sign a consent form?

All patients must give permission before they receive any type of medical treatment, test, or examination. Consent is usually given when you sign the consent form before your treatment, but we may ask you to give it verbally.

• You must give your consent voluntarily.

• The hospital must give you all the information you need to make a decision about your treatment. This is so you can give us informed consent. If you have not been given this information, or you have but you still have questions, please speak to a member of staff. 

• You must be capable of giving consent. This means that you understand the information given to you and can make an informed decision. 

When we ask you to give consent, please use this time to ask any questions you may still have. For more information, please go to the NHS Consent for Treatment web page. Remember, you can withdraw your consent for treatment at any time.

How will I feel after my operation?

You will feel some mild pain and discomfort once the anaesthetic has worn off, which may take a couple of hours. You may need to take simple painkillers, such as paracetamol. Please make sure you have a supply of these at home before you come to hospital.

For the first few days after surgery, you will have some swelling and bruising around the injection site. This usually settles within 2 weeks.

Can I drive after my operation?

No. Do not drive after your procedure. Please arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure, unless you have been told otherwise.

Do I need to take time off work?

This depends on the type of work you do. You will need to take the rest of the day off, and possibly longer depending on the operation you have. Please contact us if you need further advice.

What should I do if I have any questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the Pre-assessment teams.

Pre-assessment teams

• Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
  Telephone: 01227 783114

• Ophthalmic Unit, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury 
  Telephone: 01227 866493 (7.30am to 8pm)

• Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
  Telephone: 01843 235115

• William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
  Telephone: 01233 616743

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• Patient Voice Team
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