Before your operation
To decide whether you need an operation, you will meet with Professor Steadman and discuss your diagnosis to decide whether your best option is surgical or nonsurgical.
If it is decided that surgery is the most appropriate measure, then you will participate in the surgical consent process. Surgical consent ensures that you are informed and agree to surgery – it has 4 important parameters:
- Diagnosis
- Treatment options and alternatives
- Risks / complications of the surgery
- Recovery / rehabilitation.
Any certificates for time off work will be provided and Patient transit scheme forms will be attended to. Private work disablity and trauma insurance or life insurance claim forms will be attended to but can be a very lengthy process and will incur additional charges.
On the day of surgery, you will need to fast for 6 hours and be present at the hospital approximately 2 hours before your operation time (which we will advise). Note that fasting means that you must not consume food or fluid during this time.
When you come to the hospital you need to bring your x-rays and the carbon copy of your consent form and any medications which you may need and have discussed with Professor Steadman.
As much as it would be good if there was no waiting, unfortunately there is always some waiting at the hospital before your operation.
After your operation
The following day, if you are an inpatient, Professor Steadman will catch up with you and organise your ongoing care in the ward, and/or the discharge arrangements.
Following surgery, you will then make a follow-up appointment to review your surgical wound, discuss the results of any tests and/or the next stage of treatment and your ongoing progress.
