Your inpatient stay
Please refer to the preparation for surgery section which explains what to bring to hospital and how you can prepare your home for when you leave hospital.
Day of surgery
Eating and drinking
Please follow the instructions given to you about when to stop eating and drinking before your operation. If there is food or liquid in your stomach during your anaesthetic, it could come up into the back of your throat and damage your lungs. This is rare however if it does happen it can be very serious.
If you have not followed the correct fasting instructions, your operation will be cancelled.
Medications
If you normally take prescribed medicines in the morning, please continue to take these on the day of surgery, apart from tablets you have been specifically told not to take by the pre-assessment team. Take them with a sip of still water. Please do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before surgery.
Arrival
You will come into hospital on the same day as your operation. You will be asked to attend either the Sandbourne suite or the Derwent ward to be admitted for your surgery. If you are admitted to the Derwent ward you will return to it after your operation. If you are admitted to the Sandbourne suite you may stay on the orthopaedic ward in the main hospital building, or on the Derwent ward following your operation. This will depend on your past medical history and bed availability. Please note you may move between wards during your admission for medical or bed management reasons.
When you arrive, a member of the nursing team will admit you and complete your pre-operative nursing assessment. This will include checking markers of your health (called ‘observations’) such as your blood pressure and you may also need a blood test. You will be visited by the surgeon and anaesthetist before your operation and will have the chance to ask any questions you have.
In preparation for theatre, you will be asked to put on a hospital gown and remove piercings, jewellery, and any other loose items such as glasses, false nails, and dentures.
Immediately post-surgery
Following your operation, you will be taken to the recovery section of theatres. You will always have a nurse with you to monitor you. They will be checking your observations such as your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels regularly. You may need to breathe oxygen through a light plastic mask and may have a drip in your arm. If you feel sick, or are in pain, let your nurse know so they can treat you quickly.
When your nurse is satisfied you have recovered safely from your anaesthetic, you will be taken to the orthopaedic ward.
Medical management
You will have a daily review by the ward doctor and a member of the surgical team while you are in hospital. They will monitor your general health, adjust your pain relief as needed, and arrange and check your blood results and x-ray.
Pain management
The nurses will offer you painkillers at regular intervals throughout the day while you are on the ward. They will begin to offer you these before the anaesthetic has worn off to ensure you have some pain relief in your system before feeling returns. In between these times, if your pain is increasing or has not been managed by the pain relief you have been given, there is additional pain relief you can request when needed. In terms of pain management, it is important to act early. If the pain becomes severe it may require more medication to bring it back under control and may delay your recovery.
Please note, while in hospital you should not self-administer any medications. All your medications should be given to you by the nursing staff so they can be monitored to ensure maximum dosages are not exceeded.
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
The physiotherapists review patients on the ward to teach exercises and ensure they can walk safely with an appropriate walking aid if needed. They can also make referrals for ongoing outpatient physiotherapy. The occupational therapists will discuss how to manage everyday activities when you return home and provide equipment to help you with this if necessary.
More information regarding physiotherapy and occupational therapy can be found here.
Other information for your inpatient stay
Getting back to your normal routine will help you feel more like your usual self, so we encourage you to get dressed in comfortable day clothes while on the ward.
What are the visiting hours for the ward?
Visiting times are 2-8pm, however please be aware there may be occasions where we need to interrupt your visitors to provide some of your care, such as observations, dressing changes, therapy review, or x-ray.
Is it safe to bring valuables into hospital with me?
There is a lockable drawer in your bedside locker, but we recommend you don’t bring in too many valuables. Valuables are brought into hospital at your own risk. University Hospitals Dorset cannot take any responsibility for your belongings.
Can my relatives bring in flowers?
We regret that we can’t allow flowers or plants onto the ward. This is because they are a source of infection, which could affect your, or other patient’s, wounds.
Discharge
How long will I stay in hospital?
We will aim to get you home as soon as you are medically fit, your symptoms are well controlled, and you can safely manage at home. For most people this is after one to two nights in hospital.
What needs to be achieved before I go home?
To ensure you are ready to go home we need to check the following:
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you are considered ‘medically fit’
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your blood results and x-ray of your joint are satisfactory
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your wound is showing signs of healing
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your pain is controlled
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you can walk around safely with an appropriate walking aid by yourself (most patients go home on two elbow crutches or walking sticks after hip or knee surgery).
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you can get on and off the bed, toilet, and chair by yourself
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you have managed to do a step or set of stairs safely (depending on what you have at home)
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you are aware of how to manage day to day activities while following any specific instructions from your surgeon.
What will I take home with me?
Before leaving the ward you will be given:
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an advice sheet about your operation with details of who to contact with any concerns
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any equipment which has been loaned to you such as walking aids or toilet frames
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a discharge letter for your records with information about your admission. On this letter there is also advice regarding signs and symptoms of blood clots and who to contact regarding any concerns
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a letter for your practice nurse who will check your wound and remove clips or stitches as appropriate (patients having foot or hand surgery will often return to the orthopaedic outpatient department for wound review)
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a one week supply of the pain medication you have been using during admission
