Before you come into hospital, please make sure that you have ordered sufficient supplies of your regular medicines to last during your recovery period. We do not supply your regular medicines for you to take home.
When you come into hospital, please bring a supply of each medicine with you in the original packaging, including sprays, patches and inhalers. This should include those you take regularly and any you use only when you need them. In most cases, you will continue to take your usual medications during your hospital stay, using your own supplies. If you have a repeat prescription list from your GP, please bring this with you.
On the morning of your surgery you should take your morning medicines at 6am, unless you have been advised not to by your surgeon, anaesthetist or the pre-assessment clinic.
When you are discharged, any changes to your medicines will be explained to you and you will take your remaining usual medicines home with you.
If we start you on any new medicines in hospital, you will be given a supply, along with information on how to take them.
Fasting
It is very important to follow the instructions on when to stop eating and drinking, as your surgery may be cancelled or postponed if you do not. These can be found in your admission letter and also in the fluid information leaflet given to you in the pre-assessment clinic. You are able to drink water for up to two hours before surgery. However it is very difficult to know exactly what time your operation will be. Once in hospital, please do not have anything else to drink unless advised to do so by the staff looking after you. Whenever possible, you will be offered more water, taking into account your position on the operating list and any possible changes to that order.
Have a bath or a shower
Ideally on the morning of your surgery. This will help to keep your skin as clean as possible and reduce the risk of a wound infection after surgery. If you are unable to have a bath or shower that morning, please have one the night before. Before you coming into hospital, please remove all the jewellery and piercings that you can. Nail varnish, false nails and make up should be removed.
What you need to bring into hospital
To enable the ward staff to admit you without delay, it is important that you bring the following documents:
admission letter
NHS number
postcode of your home address
pension book number and amount payable (if applicable)
war pension details (if applicable)
the name and surgery address of your family doctor
your Bradford hospital number (if you have one)
Below is a list of items you may need during your stay:
medicines you usually take (please give these to your nurse)
if you have been given a CPAP machine for sleep apnoea, please bring this in with you
any mobility aids you use, such as a walking stick or frame
glasses, hearing aids, contact lenses and denture pots together with any solutions and containers
small amount of comfortable clothes to wear during the day that are easy to put on and take off which do not restrict movement
enclosed shoes or trainers
a small amount of money (cash machines are available at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital)
a list of questions you would like to ask
Mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other entertainment devices are permitted in most areas. If you want to bring these, it is at your own risk.
If you chose to keep anything on the ward, please make sure you fill out a patient disclaimer form.
Day case patients should only bring what is required for the time you are with us.
Please do not bring the following:
large amounts of money
alcohol or illegal drugs
jewellery apart from a wedding ring
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot be liable for damage, loss or theft of your personal items.
What happens on the day of surgery
Your arrival at hospital
When you arrive at the hospital please go straight to the ward specified on your admission letter.
If you need help to find the admissions area or your ward when you arrive, please ask for help at the enquiry desk in the main reception.
Our enquiry desks are open:
Bradford Royal Infirmary: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
St Luke’s Hospital: 7.30am – 4pm daily
You may have a long wait before your operation. We understand how frustrating this can be for you. Unfortunately this is often unavoidable. Sometimes it is due to late changes to the operating list that become necessary; but usually it is to allow your surgeon and anaesthetist to see you before heading into theatre for a full day of operations.
Please bring something with you to help you pass the time. You may be able to leave the ward for short periods, but please check with the nurse-in-charge and stay within the hospital grounds so that staff can contact you when it is time for your operation.
Preparation for surgery
A nurse will prepare you for your operation.
This will involve:
Changing into a theatre gown and elastic underwear
You may be asked to wear compression stockings (to help reduce the risk of developing a blood clot)
Completing a safety checklist
A visit from a member of the surgical team. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions and resolve any concerns you may have
A visit from the anaesthetist to discuss the anaesthetic and pain relief you will be offered after your operation
Dentures – If you wish, you may keep your dentures until just before the anaesthetist gives you the anaesthetic. They will be returned to you in the recovery room when you wake up
Glasses and hearing aids – you may take them to the operating theatre. The nurse will label them for you and they will be stored in a box and returned to you in the recovery room
Going to the operating theatre
If you are able, you will walk to the operating theatre accompanied by a member of staff. Wheelchairs and trolleys are available for patients who have difficulty walking or when the theatre is a distance away.
More information
Help with fares
If you are attending an NHS hospital for treatment you may be entitled to the cost of bus fare or possibly mileage allowance (this does not usually include taxi fares, unless it is deemed totally inappropriate to use public transport) to or from the hospital if:
you or your partner receive income support, income-based job seekers’ allowance, family credit or disability working allowance
your income is low enough (claim on form HC1)
you are attending a sexually-transmitted disease clinic more than 15 miles from your home
you get a war or MOD disablement pension and are being treated for your war injury
Payment can be made at any hospital. Please ask at main reception points. We may also pay for an escort to travel with you if it is considered medically necessary. The doctor or nurse looking after you will make this decision.
If you are visiting a patient who is a partner or close relative, you may be able to get help with your travel costs if you are receiving income support or income-based job seekers’ allowance. You can obtain the claim form from your local social services office.
Accessible information standard (AIS)
The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) is a new national standard that all organisations providing NHS or adult social care are required to implement.
The AIS ensures that patients, carers and parents of patients, and visitors who have a disability or sensory loss receive information they can access and understand. We strive to ensure that information is given in the appropriate format and all patient information is produced according to the accessible standards set by the UK Association for Accessible Formats.
This includes:
large font patient letters and patient information leaflets
verbal and visual communication support
patient information and patient letters in braille
email and text reminders
personalised communication for people with a learning disability
If you have a specific communication need, please call the service under which you are being treated. You can find contact details on your appointment letter or on the services pages of this website.
Ethnicity data collection
You will be asked which ethnic group you belong to. This information is collected to enable the Trust to ensure that the service provided meets the needs of our patients.
Entitlement to NHS treatment
There are occasions when patients may be required to prove residency in the UK and entitlement to NHS treatment. Please help our staff if they require this information.
Dignity and respect
You and your family have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about your treatment and care. You can expect to be treated with dignity and respect. You will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. You have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.
Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their privacy and dignity. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing every patient with same sex accommodation.
Sharing with members of the opposite sex will only happen by exception, based on clinical need (for example where patients need specialist equipment or care such as in our intensive care unit, coronary care unit or high dependency unit). If this is necessary we will make every effort to move you to a same sex area as soon as possible.
Coming into hospital
Adults coming into theatre
All the information you need about what happens on the day of your operation.
