Baby's first vaccinations: schedule and visit checks
Find your country's schedule, prepare for the visit and know what to watch for afterwards.
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Before surgery: the night before and the morning of
Eating, medicines and getting there. Your hospital's letter always comes first.
In the days before (7)
- Read your admission letter. Its instructions come first
- Diarrhoea or vomiting in the last 72 hours? Call the number on the letterYour operation will probably need a new date.
- Fever or flu-like symptoms in the last few days? Tell the team
- Ask about your regular medicines, especially for diabetes and blood thinning
- Going home the same day? Arrange an adult to take you and stay for 24 hoursWithout one, your operation may be cancelled.
- Get simple food and the painkillers you were told to use at home
- Ask someone to help with cooking and shopping for the first days
The night before (7)
- Check the time you must stop eating, and the time you must stop drinkingTimes differ between hospitals. Morning operations often allow food until midnight.
- Do not stop eating earlier than you were toldA longer fast gives no benefit.
- Do not drink alcohol
- Wash as your letter says: some hospitals give you a special wash
- Remove nail varnishIt can get in the way of the monitoring.
- Pack your medicines, letter and something to read
- Set two alarms and sleep early
The morning of (5)
- Follow your cut-off times for food, milk and drinksMany hospitals allow still water for longer. Ask if you are unsure.
- Take your regular medicines unless told not to, with a small sip of water
- Leave jewellery and valuables at home
- Wake up unwell? Call the ward before you set off
- Arrive at the time on the letterThis is not your operation time. You may wait a few hours.
Tell the team (7)
- All medicines and supplements you take, and when you last had them
- Allergies and past problems with anaesthetics
- When you last ate and drank, honestly
- Any chance you are pregnant
- Loose teeth, dentures, hearing aids or contact lenses
- Who will take you home, and their phone number
- Your questions. Write them down so you remember
Written from chelwest.nhs.uk
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