North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Coming into hospital for day surgery Easy read version
Making an appointment to see your GP (family doctor).
Going to see your GP at the Health Centre. If you want, someone can go with you when you go to see your GP.
Talking to your G.P.
Talking to doctor. He wants you to see a doctor at the hospital. You will be given or sent a letter.
You will go home.
You get a letter from your doctor. Choose and book. You can make an appointment at a time that is best for you and your supporter.
You can: book your appointment on the internet telephone to make an appointment. If you or someone you know cannot do this, staff at your GP practice can help.
Letter from the hospital telling you what day and time you have to go to the hospital.
If you need to find out how to get to the hospital, telephone: Traveline 0871 200 2233
You may be able to get help with the cost of travel to and from hospital. Ask for a leaflet.
Going into the Out-patient Department hospital with your appointment letter.
Give your appointment letter to staff at reception. You will be asked to sit in a waiting area.
Waiting until a nurse calls your name.
A nurse will ask you to follow her into a small room to have some checks done before you see the doctor. If you do not understand why these are being done please ask.
The nurse will weigh you.
The nurse will measure how tall you are.
The nurse will check your blood pressure.
The nurse will test your urine (wee) sample.
You will be asked to sit in the waiting area again until the doctor is ready to see you.
A nurse will ask you to go with her to see the doctor.
The doctor will explain why your GP has asked you to come to hospital. He will talk to you about what is wrong with you. He may want you to have some more tests done while you are at hospital. You may have to come back to the hospital on another day for some tests. You will be given another appointment.
Listening to your chest.
Having a blood test.
Having an ultrasound scan.
Having a chest x-ray.
Radiographer looking at your x-ray.
Having an x-ray of swallowing a drink for example: A videofluovoscopy or barium swallow.
Having an x-ray of your teeth.
Having a CT scan This is a different kind of x-ray. - radiographer looking at the CT image (picture).
Collecting medicine from hospital pharmacy before you go home.
Leaving hospital to go home.
If you have come by car, you will need to pay. Use the pay machine and then leave the car park.
Next appointment to go back to the hospital to get the results of your tests.
Showing your appointment letter at reception.
In the waiting area until a nurse calls your name.
A nurse will ask you to go with her to see the doctor.
The doctor will talk to you and would like you to come into hospital for treatment or an operation.
The doctor will talk to you about consent (agreeing) to the operation. You can sign this yourself. If you cannot understand the consent form the doctor will sign in your best interest. Your family or supporter cannot sign this form.
The doctor will ask you to go to the Pre-assessment Unit. He may give you forms to take with you.
Pre-assessment Unit.
If you cannot fill in the from yourself a nurse will help you to do it. The hospital needs this information before you have your operation.
Having a test in the Pre-assessment Unit.
Handing request form to reception at Cardiac Investigation Department to have a test on your heart.
Having an ECG to check your heart is working OK.
To check your heart when taking exercise you may have an ECG while walking on a treadmill.
The nurse may ask you to go to the waiting list office to find out when you have to come into hospital.
Getting a date for you to come into hospital from the waiting list office. If the waiting list office cannot give you a date to come into hospital it will be sent to you in the post. You will also be told what you will need to do before coming into hospital.
At home, with hospital leaflet about your operation.
You will be told what time you have to: stop eating stop drinking before your operation.
Packing the things you will need to bring into hospital: pyjamas or nightie dressing gown slippers underwear A bag with: toothbrush and toothpaste soap towel shower gel shampoo deodorant magazines or books small amount of money for TV, phone or shop.
Coming into hospital.
A nurse will make sure nothing has changed. Your blood pressure (BP) will be checked again.
A name band will be put on your wrist. You will also have a red wristband if you have any allergies (a bad reaction to some food or medicines).
Talking about the operation. Checking consent form. Telling you what time you will have your operation.
Waiting with your supporter.
Walking to the operating theatre with a nurse. Your supporter can go with you if you want.
Waiting to go into the operating theatre. You will be helped to get on a theatre trolley. You will be covered up with a blanket to keep you warm. Your supporter can still be with you. A theatre nurse will also be with you.
Being pushed on the trolley into the anaesthetic room. Your supporter can still be with you.
In the anaesthetic room your doctor will talk to you before your operation.
You will be given some drugs to make you go to sleep. Your supporter will go back to the waiting room.
When you are asleep you will be taken into the operating theatre.
When your operation is over you will be taken to the recovery room. You will still feel sleepy. You may not remember being in this room. You will still be on a theatre trolley. You may stay in recovery for about 30 minutes. Your supporter can be with you.
You will be taken to a ward. You will be covered with a blanket to keep you warm.
When you are in bed on the ward you may still feel sleepy. You will be given a nurse call buzzer. Press it if you need anything. You must not try to get out of bed on your own.
Your nurse will keep checking make sure that you are OK.
Your nurse will ask you if you are in pain. You can be given you some medication to stop it hurting, if needed.
A nurse will tell you when you can have a drink and something to eat. You will be given a hand wipe to wash your hands before eating.
Nurse talking to you about going home, and your discharge letter.
You may be given some medicines you need when you go home. The nurse will tell you how many and when to take them. This will also be written on the bottle or box. If you need a fit note, ask your nurse.
Going home.
Arriving home.
You may have to go to your GP practice to see the nurse and they may need to take out stitches or change dressings.
The hospital may ask you to see your GP to check you are doing well after your operation
You may have to go back to the hospital Outpatient Department to check the operation has made you better.
Contact numbers Learning Disability Specialist Nurse telephone: 01429 522742 Monday Friday, 9.00am 5.00pm CorpER379.1 (2017) For Review Spring 2020