Your operating theatre journey

During your time in the admissions lounge, you will be taken into a room to be interviewed by a pre-admission nurse about your basic health.

If you have recently developed an acute illness, please notify your nursing staff on arrival so that the anaesthetist can review your condition and determine whether it is appropriate to proceed with surgery.

Your pre-admission nurse will ask you a series of basic health related questions and provide theatre attire for you to change into.

You will then be taken into a holding bay within the operating theatres by a holding bay nurse or theatre orderly.

Your holding bay nurse will then confirm your personal details and run through a checklist confirming your basic health and personal details.

An anaesthetic nurse and anaesthetist will also introduce themselves to you during this period and will again ask you basic questions regarding your basic health and personal details.

Some procedures, such as epidurals, may be performed by the anaesthetist in the anaesthesia bay or room before entering the operating theatre.

When you are ready to enter the operating theatres, a theatre technician will introduce themselves and take you into the operating room, assisting in transferring you to the operating table.

Recovery

Same day patients

After your procedure, you will be taken to the recovery area where you will be closely monitored by nursing staff. The time you spend in recovery will depend on the type of procedure you have and how your recovery is progressing.

Your surgeon and/or anaesthetist may review you prior to discharge. When you are ready for discharge, you will be given information relating to your post-operative care at home.

It is a requirement that you have someone accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.

Overnight patients

After your procedure, you will be taken to a recovery area where nursing staff will closely monitor you. The time you spend in recovery will depend on the type of procedure you have and how your recovery is progressing.

You will then be taken to a ward bed.

Your length of stay will depend on the type of procedure you have had.

Epworth promotes a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care, overseen by a doctor. Professionals in the fields of physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, social work and dietetics are employed to work at Epworth in the hospitals and at rehabilitation.

During your operating theatre journey, it may become frustrating being asked the same questions multiple times. However, this is a necessary process in order for us to ensure that we have the correct patient prepared for the correct procedure every step of the way.

Patients are taken to the operating room in order of the operating list. While lists are carefully planned, patient emergencies can result in a list order change or longer than expected theatre times. We make every effort to keep your waiting time to a minimum and will keep you informed if any unforeseen delays occur.