• Reference Number: HEY1207/2021
• Departments: Breast Services
• Last Updated: 25 February 2021

Day Surgery Unit 3 (DSU3) Ward 4 Castle Hill Hospital (Entrance One)

Telephone numbers

• DSU3 – (01482) 622216
• Breast Care Unit – (01482) 622679

Before surgery

• Please ensure you read and understand your fasting instructions. You should have received these with your appointment letter. If these are not followed there is a risk your surgery will be cancelled for safety reasons.
• You must inform us if you begin a course of antibiotics or develop any infections in the 3 weeks before your operation day. Infections include a chest infection (chesty cough), diarrhoea and vomiting, conjunctivitis (contagious eye infection), impetigo (contagious skin infection). You will also need to inform us if you have had an asthma attack which required hospital treatment.
• Please have a bath or shower and hair wash the day before the operation.

What to bring in with you on day of surgery

• You will be required to wear a gown for your operation. Please bring a dressing gown and slippers with you to wear over the gown before and after surgery.
• Please bring loose warm clothes to travel home in.
• Please try to avoid bringing valuables in with you. The Trust cannot accept responsibility or liability for property or money brought onto hospital premises, unless they are handed to a member of staff for safe custody, and an official receipt is issued.

Medications

• Please ensure you have a supply of simple analgesia such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at home as these are not routinely supplied.
• If you use inhalers, take diabetic medication or epilepsy medication; please bring them with you on the day.
• Please bring an up to date list of all medications with you on the day of surgery.

Day of surgery

• The time on you letter is not the time of your operation, it is the time patients are asked to attend to be admitted by the nurses and seen by the doctors.
• Depending on where you are on the theatre list, you may have to wait a little while before surgery therefore it is advisable to bring a book to read etc.
• Make up needs to be removed prior to surgery, Nail varnish should be removed from fingers and toes and false nails are not permitted in theatre.
• If you are accompanied, the person with you may be asked to leave and come back, especially if the waiting area is crowded. They will not be able to be with you in recovery immediately after surgery.
• You will be staying with us for at least 2 hours after you have woken up following your operation.
• It is not safe to travel home on public transport (bus or train) after a general anaesthetic. You must arrange a lift home in a car or taxi with a responsible adult.
• You must arrange for someone (aged18 or over) to stay with you for 24 hours after having a general anaesthetic, failure to do this may result in your surgery being cancelled.
• We do not allow visitors to eat or drink in front of patients who have come in for surgery. There are cafes within the hospital for visitors to use.
• Please inform us if you require a doctor’s ‘fit note’ (sometimes called a ‘sick note’). 

After surgery

• You will require time off work following your operation. The length of time will vary depending on the type of surgery and the job you do. This information will be confirmed at pre-assessment and / or on discharge.

• All information about wound care, follow up appointments, contact numbers and care at home following surgery will be given to you at discharge. Please do not leave without receiving this important information.