You will be told the location, date and time of where to attend for your procedure. Please follow any written instructions that have been given to you in pre-assessment regarding your normal medications (some medication need to be stopped up to a week before some types of operations, and some are not taken on the day. This can be confusing and difficult to remember which is why we give you written instructions).
Please follow the written instructions in your appointment letter regarding eating and drinking before your operation.
The order of operating lists are determined by people’s underlying health conditions, equipment required for procedures, availability and staffing levels. As such, we will be unable to tell you an exact time that you will go to theatre but will not keep you waiting longer than we possibly can.
Admission
Your surgery could take place at any of our four hospitals. For more information on our hospital sites please see the 'getting here' section on our website.
What is an anaesthetic?
An anaesthetic causes a loss of sensation and is used for pain relief, to numb areas of the body for certain tests and surgery as well as to induce sleep. The anaesthetic you are given will depend on the type of surgery you are having, and your health.
Information regarding the different anaesthetics, such as local, sedation, spinal, GA and nerve block can be found on The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCOA) website.
Information regarding recovery from an anaesthetic can also be found on the RCOA website, and will explain why we ask for you to be picked up by a friend or relative, and have an adult stay with you overnight.
Last reviewed: 06 November 2023