When You arrive:

You will be escorted to the orthopaedic ward. Please feel free to relax in your bedroom. The House Doctor will prepare you for pre - admission assessment.

Your surgery:

The night prior to your surgery:

Your consultant surgeon will visit you to discuss your treatment and ask you to sign a consent form. Please ask questions you may have about any aspect of your treatment.

The day of your surgery:

Before your surgery

Just before your surgery you will be met by anaesthetist. He or she will monitor you from this point until you are well enough to return to your bedroom after your operation.

Surgery

You will be taken into the operating room for your surgery. Your time in the operating room will depend on the type of surgery you are having. A team of professionals will be in the operating room to assist your surgeon in providing excellent care and ensuring your safety and comfort during your surgery.

After your surgery

After your surgery is completed you will be moved to the post- operative anaesthesia care area also known as the Recovery Room. Your stay in the Recovery Room will usually be between 12 and 24 hours. You will then be transferred to your room.

Recovering from your surgery

Caring for your new joint starts the day after your operation. You may wake up from surgery with a pillow between your legs (to stop the joint moving).

You may have a drain from the surgical site. This drainage tube collects any bloody fluid that has accumulated under the skin and muscle. This tube will soon be removed and you will be encouraged to become mobile.

A bar (trapeze) will be hanging over your head. Use it to help lift your body when you change position.

You might need to have a blood transfusion.

During your first post-operative days, your physiotherapists will be along to help you with some passive exercises (meaning that he or she will move your limb).

In these early days, great care will be taken to avoid dislocation and not to move your joint too much.

Gradually you will be strengthening the muscles around your joints with active exercises.

Medical Information:

If you have any questions about your treatment, your consultant and his associates will be able to help you. Your consultant or a senior member of his team will see you each day. If you wish to see your consultant outside his daily routine please inform your nurse.

Nursing:

Inside your room you will find information with the name of the nurse looking after you on each shift.

English speaking Co-ordinator:

You will be visited daily (except Sundays) by the hospital English speaking Co-ordinator. Please ask him or her for any help or if you have any special requests during your stay in hospital.

Meals:

Newspapers:

An English newspaper can be delivered to your bedroom at a small charge.

Personal Laundry:

We have made arrangements for a personal laundry collection once a week, to be returned clean the next day.

Post & Mail:

Incoming mail will be delivered to your room.

Telephones:

Friends and relatives wishing to know about your progress can ring our office number: 020 8651 5443 between 09.00 am - 05.00 p.m. It will be helpful if your family or friends could arrange for one person to contact us to find out how you are. This person could then pass the information on to the relevant people.

We can not give medical information over the phone but we can ask the doctor in charge to get in touch with your family member if required.

What to Bring to Hospital?

We recommend that you bring to the hospital following items:

• 4 x sets of pyjamas or night dresses
• knee length robe or gown (please do not bring floor length robes as they make walking difficult)
• personal toiletries
• spectacles
• dentures
• walking stick, crutches or walker (if you already use any of them)
• comfortable pair of slippers with non skid soles and long shoehorn for help with putting your slippers on
• comfortable pair of rubber sole shoes i.e. trainers with a Velcro fastening if possible
• water proof shoes (flip flops) for use in the shower
• reading material
• pocket money (around L200)
• loose and comfortable training clothing : bottoms like cotton jogging trousers or shorts and tops like sweatshirt or cotton blouse (very loose clothing).

Do not bring any valuables with you including jewellery, cheque books or large sums of cash.