When being treated at our trust, you may be categorised as:
- An outpatient – you will come in for an appointment but you won’t need to be given a bed or stay overnight;
- A day case (day patient) – you will be admitted and given a bed, but you won’t need to stay overnight – this is usually for minor procedures or some diagnostic tests; or,
- An inpatient – you will be admitted for treatment and will be staying at least one night
Pre-operative assessment
Sometimes you will need to have a pre-assessment appointment before your treatment. It can sometimes take place at the hospital, over the phone or on the same day as your treatment.
During this assessment, we will:
- Discuss your health and medical history to check that you are suitable for the treatment e.g. your fitness and how any anaesthetic used may affect you
- Perform any necessary tests, scans or screens depending on what treatment you are having, e.g. a scan or swabs to check your risk of infection
- Ask about any medication you are taking
- Explain your treatment in more detail
- Advise you on your recovery e.g. what to expect and any arrangements you need to make at home
- Discuss any special needs you have such as disability, or dietary requirements
- Answer any questions
We will let you know exactly what will happen in your pre-operative assessment during your initial consultations.