Day Procedure Unit

The Day Procedure unit comprises of:

• Dedicated Surgical Specialists, registrars and residents who are available to speak with you in the Day Procedure Unit prior to your surgery to address any concerns you may have.
• Nurse unit manager who is responsible for the management of the unit and available Monday to Friday business hours.
• Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses dedicated to quality patient care that will prepare you for your surgery and answer any questions regarding your operation. 
• Administration staff will assist you with the admission process and answers any questions you may have about Medicare and private health insurance.
• Ancillary staff that assist with transferring of patients to and from theatre.

If you are having surgery, you will receive a text message and a letter from the booking office. The text will confirm the date you need to come to the hospital for your surgery.

A nurse will call you between 2pm-6pm the day before you come to the hospital. The call will show as “No Caller ID,” so please make sure to answer.

During the call, the nurse will:
•    tell you what time to arrive
•    ask about your health and the medicines you take
•    tell you when you should stop eating

Before your surgery, you must visit your doctor for pre-surgery tests. These tests might include:
•    blood tests,
•    an ECG,
•    a chest x-ray
•    
The doctor will also give you a letter with a list of your medications, which you must bring with you to the hospital.

A nurse or clinical nurse consultant may contact you to conduct a pre-surgery assessment and request more information from your doctor.

Going home on the same day as your surgery:

Because you are having an anaesthetic, you or a family member must arrange for someone to take you home. You cannot go home alone.

When you go home, the nurse will give you:

•    a time for your follow-up appointment with your doctor
•    clear instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery

Staying overnight:

If you are staying overnight, please bring a small bag with toiletries and a change of clothes.
After your surgery, the nurse will take you to an inpatient ward, and the treating team will check on you the next day before you go home.

When you go home, your nurse will give you medicine and instructions to help you recover from the surgery.

We work in partnership with your local Doctor, hospitals in other health districts, community nursing organisations. We also work with SSEH clinical nurse consultants/educators in ophthalmology (eyes) and hands.

The service is a  Day Procedure Unit that is open Monday to Friday. The unit conducts admissions prior to transfer to the operating suite. Admissions are for patients having surgery on the day and returning home the same day or for patients staying overnight that are then transferred to an inpatient ward after surgery. Admissions may be elective, emergencies, from specialists’ rooms, via the hand clinic or transferred from another health facility.

How long will my surgery be?

This will depend on the type of surgery you are having. As a general rule allow 2 hours from the time you are transferred to the operating suite to transfer back to the ward.

When will I stop eating and drinking?

You will be advised by nursing staff the afternoon before surgery the time to commence fasting.

What time will I go to surgery?

After consultation with the doctors the theatre list order is prepared. We have morning and afternoon surgery and depending when the surgeon is operating will be where you are placed.

How long will I have to stay after surgery?

Depending on the type of anaesthetic you have it can be as little as 30 minutes after being returned to the ward or as long as 4 hours if a general anaesthetic is given.

Do you need an interpreter?

Professional interpreters are available and are free of charge if you require assistance in understanding the procedure. While a family member or relative may be with you, all treatment including the consent should be through a professional interpreter. If you require an interpreter to contact us; please call the Translating Interpreter service on 131450.

The Day Procedure Unit (1 WEST) is located on Level one of the Clinical Services Building, Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital. Enter via the main hospital foyer, take the lift to level one and turn left as you exit the lift then turn right. Please check in with the clerical staff on arrival.

On-site parking is available through METRO parking. The entrance is off hospital road. For additional information about parking please contact either the Nurse Unit Manager or nursing staff in the Day Procedure Unit. There is also metered parking along hospital road. For short periods of time of 5-15 min, escorts are allowed to park in the turning circle on hospital grounds while collecting patients.

Info line:

For information about connections, destinations and timetables for government buses, trains and ferries in and around Sydney, telephone 13 15 00. OR check the NSW Transport Trip planner website http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/tripplanner/index.html

Train: Martin Place station is directly opposite the hospital and St James station is at the end of Macquarie Street.

Bus: Bus No. 200 stops directly opposite the hospital in Macquarie Street.

Ferries: Circular Quay ferry terminal is 10 minutes walk from the hospital.

Professional interpreters are available and are free of charge if you require assistance in understanding the procedure. While a family member or relative may be with you, all treatment including the consent should be through a professional interpreter.

If you need an interpreter to contact us, please call the Translating Interpreter Service on 131450.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research or for a student to be present on your journey in Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital. You have the right to say no. If you do so this will not impact in any way on the services we provide.