Before your surgery

What to expect on the day, and what to sort out beforehand. Your surgeon's rooms will also give you instructions for your own procedure.

Where to come

Ground Floor, 121 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket

When to arrive

The first patient of the day arrives at 7am. Everyone else arrives one hour before their surgery time.

Typical length of stay

Around 2 to 2.5 hours for extractions, and 2.5 to 3 hours for arthroscopy. Your specialist will tell you how long you need to stay after your own procedure.

Eating and drinking

No food for 6 hours before your arrival time, and that includes milk and chewing gum. You may drink fluids you can see through, such as water, until 2 hours before your arrival time. From then, have nothing by mouth at all, including water, chewing gum, mints and lollies. If you take a GLP-1 medication, your fasting times are different from these and are set out further down this page.

Your escort home

Someone needs to take you home. Public transport and taxis are not safe after a general anaesthetic, and the centre recommends they stay with you for at least 24 hours.

Driving afterwards

Not until the following day. That includes operating heavy machinery.

Phone

(09) 477 0058

One week before

A reminder email with information about your procedure.

Five days before

A confirmation text message.

Two days before

A reminder text message with your appointment details.

The day before

A phone call from one of the clinical team. They confirm your arrival time, go over your fasting instructions, check the medications you are taking, and answer any last-minute questions. Have your medications with you for that call, and the team will tell you which ones to stop before your procedure. If you need an interpreter, tell them on this call or phone the centre before the day.

• Paperwork

  • Your admission forms and health questionnaire, if you have not already submitted them online.
  • Your insurance documents, including any letter of prior approval.

• Medications

  • All your usual medications, in their original containers.
  • Any herbal or dietary supplements you take.

• Clothing and personal items

  • Comfortable clothing and footwear. Women are asked to avoid underwire bras, and a soft non-underwire bra is welcome instead.
  • Glasses or hearing aids, if you use them.
  • A favourite toy or blanket, if you are bringing a child.

Leave at home

Jewellery, piercings, large amounts of cash and other valuables. The centre cannot take responsibility for lost possessions.

Do not wear

False nails, nail varnish or foundation make-up. The clip that measures your oxygen levels reads through your fingernail, and make-up gets in the way of the monitoring stickers.

Which medication

Tell the team which medication you take.

Solid food

Stop eating solid food 24 hours before your arrival time. Clear fluid diet only during the 24 hours.

Clear fluid

Stop all clear fluid diet 6 hours before your arrival time.

Water

You may drink small amounts of water until 2 hours before your arrival time, then no water.

Nil by mouth

From 2 hours before your arrival time, have nothing by mouth, including water, chewing gum, mints, or lollies.

Plan to arrive early. If you are delayed, call the centre.

• 01

  Reception

  Register at the reception desk and check that your personal details are correct.

• 02

  Admission area

  You are taken through to the admission area, where a member of the admissions team explains what happens next.

• 03

  Your observations

  They check your blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, and review your allergies and medications.

• 04

  Getting ready

  You may change into a theatre gown, and you may be given a tablet to help you relax or to manage pain afterwards.

The rules for the 24 hours after your surgery, including driving and who stays with you, are on After surgery.

In the 24 hours before you come in

Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and non-prescribed drugs.