Nurse telephone pre-assessment

When the nurse telephones you for your pre-assessment appointment, please have:

• a copy of this leaflet, and

• a list of your medications.

Please contact the Pre-assessment Clinic on one of the numbers below if:

• There have been any changes in your medical condition.

• There have been changes to your medication.

• You have seen your GP for anything.

• You have any further questions or concerns.

• Your symptoms have resolved or changed.

• You no longer need or want to have the procedure / operation.

• You have had a cough, cold, sore throat, or other illness within two weeks of your date of admission to hospital.

• You have become pregnant.

• You are planning to fly six weeks before or three months after surgery.

Pre-assessment contact details

• Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
  Telephone: 01227 783114

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

• William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
  Telephone: 01233 616743

If you are unable to attend for any other reason after we have confirmed a date for your surgery, please contact the Waiting List Office using the telephone number on your admission letter.

If you do not have a date for surgery, the Waiting List Office will contact you. There may be a delay between your pre-assessment appointment and the date of your surgery. You may have to return for an updated pre-assessment to update your health status and investigations.

Please do not smoke for at least 48 hours before your procedure / operation.

If you are planned to be discharged from hospital on the same day as your surgery, please arrange for a responsible adult to stay with you for the first 24 hours.

On the day of your procedure / operation

• Do not wear nail varnish, false nails, or make-up.

• Try to have a bath or shower at home before coming to the hospital.

• Bring a dressing gown and slippers with you.

• Space at the bedside is limited; please only bring one small item of luggage and leave all valuables at home.

Please attend:

Time:

Date:

Fasting instructions

If you are having surgery in the morning

• Do not eat food after 2.30am on the day of your surgery. Please do not drink milk or fruit juice with pulp after 2.30am.

• You may drink non-alcoholic clear fluids, such as water or black tea / coffee until 6.30am. This does not include fizzy drinks.

If you are having surgery in the afternoon

• Do not eat food after 7.30am on the day of your surgery. Please do not drink milk or fruit juice with pulp after 7.30am.

• You may drink non-alcoholic clear fluids, such as water or black tea / coffee until 11.30am. This does not include fizzy drinks.

Should I take my normal medication before my surgery?

• Bring to hospital all your usual medications in their original containers. This includes any inhalers, eye drops, creams, and ointments.

• Except the following:

• Specific medication instructions:

Continue to take all other regular medication as usual on the day of your surgery with a sip of water.

Make sure that you have at home, ready for your day of discharge, enough of the painkillers that you would normally take for mild to moderate pain.