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Free preparing for an operation

The steps before planned surgery. Always follow your own surgical team's instructions on medicines, eating and drinking. Use the Hospital stay list for packing.

Before the day

• Go to the pre-operative assessment
• Confirm your surgical team's medicine instructions
• Talk about allergies and anaesthetic with the team
• Arrange time off work
• Arrange a lift home
• Call the surgical team if you become unwell
• Have any pre-operative tests
• Confirm the date and arrival time

The night before

• Follow your surgical team's fasting instructions
• Wash as instructed
• Remove jewellery, piercings and nail polish as instructed

Take with you

• Appointment letter
• Medicines in their boxes
• Glasses or contact lens case

Recovery at home

• Arrange someone to stay with you if advised
• Book the follow-up appointment

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