Before you arrive
Getting ready before your appointment or procedure helps your care team understand your needs and keep you safe.
You can do a few simple things to make your visit easier, including sharing information about allergies, bringing your current medicines and asking for an interpreter if you need one.
Let staff know at any time if you have questions or need support.
When you’re admitted, your doctor will discuss when you might be ready to go home. This expected date may change based on how you’re feeling during your stay.
Tell us about allergies and past reactions
Let your doctor, nurse or care team know if you have any allergies or have had bad reactions to medicine in the past.
Bring all your medicines and a medication list
Bring all your current medicines, including over-the-counter and herbal products. If possible, bring an up-to-date medication list.
Interpreter services are available
If you or your carer need an interpreter, let staff know. This service is free and available at all times.
What to bring to hospital
Before you go to hospital, pack the items below to support your care, safety and comfort.
Personal and medical information
- your Medicare card (if you have one)
- your admission forms and admission letter
- your health fund details, including any Private Health Insurance or concession cards
- your medicines from home, including vitamins and herbal products, in their original packaging. Staff will check and record these medicines
- do not take your own medicines during your stay unless staff tell you to
- bring any creams, drops, patches, injections, refrigerated items or dose packs you use each day (such as Websterpaks)
- bring a medicine list if you have one. Staff will return your medicines when you leave
- your General Practitioner (GP) or family doctor’s name and contact details
- your carer’s name and contact details (if you have one)
- an emergency contact or next-of-kin contact number.
Personal items
- toiletries, pyjamas, comfortable clothes and well-fitted shoes
- dentures, hearing aids and glasses in protective cases
- a phone and charger with a long lead that can reach your bed
- earplugs to help reduce noise and support sleep.
Preparing for your procedure
If you are having surgery or a procedure, the Pre-admission team will contact you by phone, letter or text message (SMS).
Before your surgery or procedure
Our staff will give you information about:
- the date and time to come to hospital
- any steps you need to follow before your surgery or procedure
- what to do about eating and drinking (fasting).
Follow all fasting instructions exactly as directed by hospital staff.
If you need to cancel or change your surgery date
Contact the Surgical Booking team, or call the main hospital number, as soon as you know. Staff will rebook a new date and time.
On the day of your surgery or procedure
- leave valuables at home, including large amounts of cash and jewellery
- you cannot drive yourself home after surgery or a procedure. Ask a friend or relative to pick you up.
To help keep you safe, staff will confirm your:
- full name
- date of birth
- medical record number
- signed consent form
- type of surgery or procedure.
Try to stop smoking before your surgery. Stopping as early as you can will support your recovery.
Possible delays
Emergency cases may sometimes delay or cancel your surgery or procedure. Staff will talk with you and organise a new date and time if this happens.
Sip Til Send lets patients drink small amounts of approved clear liquids every hour until their surgery.
Benefits
- helps prevent dehydration
- reduces anxiety and stress
- safer than traditional liquid fasting.
How Sip Til Send works
Adults
- Sip up to 200 mL of approved clear liquids every hour until surgery.
Children under 65 kilograms
- Sip 3 mL of approved clear liquids for each kilogram of body weight every hour.
Patients are encouraged to use Sip Til Send but do not have to if they feel unwell.
If you have been told you are nil by mouth (no food or drink), do not use Sip Til Send.
Food and drink guidelines
When to avoid Sip Til Send
Do not use Sip Til Send if:
- you feel unwell
- you are nil by mouth for medical reasons (such as stroke or bowel obstruction)
- you have a medical condition where your surgery team advises against it.
Food instructions
- no solid food for 6 hours before surgery
- avoid thickened fluids, jellies, broths, lollies, sweets and chewing gum.
Approved clear liquids
These liquids leave the stomach quickly and help prevent thirst and dehydration without increasing risks.
- water and ice
- black tea or coffee (no milk)
- cordial
- clear apple juice.
Do not drink fizzy drinks.
More information
For detailed guidance, speak with your doctor or nurse or read the Sip Til Send patient information sheet.
Sip Til Send is standard for all surgical patients at our hospitals. Surgeons or anaesthetists will tell staff if a patient should not use Sip Til Send.
Visit the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Sip Til Send resource page or the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) Sip Til Send guidelines.
Eating and food
Eat well to support your healing. Tell staff if you do not feel hungry or if your appetite has changed.
If you miss a meal because you were away from the ward (for example, for an x-ray), let staff know.
If you want to bring food from home, check with staff first.
If you need help ordering food or opening packaging, tell staff when you arrive on the ward.
Leaving hospital
Discharge planning involves you and your family or carers. It’s important to prepare for what you’ll need after you leave hospital.
Before you leave hospital, ask your nurse about:
- your discharge summary or letter, including whether it will be given to you or sent to your family doctor or GP
- your medicines, including how and when to take them at home
- who to contact if you have questions or concerns after you leave
- the date and time of any follow-up appointments
- any equipment or support you may need at home.
You must arrange for someone to drive you home and support you when you arrive.
Discharge checklist
Before you leave hospital, make sure you:
- pack all personal belongings, including medications, x-rays or scans
- understand your follow-up appointments and treatments
- know who to contact if you’re worried after going home
- have contact details for any services arranged for you
- review your discharge instructions
- ask questions about medications, activities, diet or care at home
- collect any valuables you stored with staff
- book a follow-up with your GP within 4 days, bringing your old and new medications
- request a medical certificate if needed
- collect your discharge summary to take to your GP.