SWLEOC works in accordance to the national waiting list target guidelines. Once your GP has referred you to SWLEOC, you will currently be expected to wait an average of 18 weeks for a routine operation.

Please click here to find a leaflet from the Royal College of Anaesthetists, entitled You and Your Anaesthetic (PDF 553KB).

You need to talk to your anaesthetist just before your surgery. There are various ways in which your anaesthetic can be changed to reduce your chance of suffering sickness. Please click here to find additional information (PDF 70KB).

Pre Assessment takes one to two hours. This may seem a long time but many things are happening during that time, such as a thorough check by the Advanced Nurses to ensure that you are fit for your surgery. These checks include taking a medical history, a blood and urine test, X-ray, heart rhythm trace, and planning your discharge from the centre. We start as we mean to go on, by being thorough and educating you so that you take an active part in your recovery from the beginning of our partnership.
 

This can vary on patient and procedure, but on average you should be able to drive after 6 weeks and fly after 3 months.

You must eat on the morning that you come in for Pre-Assessment, and bring a healthy snack with you. (We provide water, tea and coffee.) This is not to be confused with coming in for Surgery, when you must not eat on your Surgery day. The theatre staff will advise you of these details when they phone you on the day before your Surgery.
 

You come in to the Centre on the day of your operation.  24 to 48 hours before your planned surgery date, a member of the theatre team will call you between 3pm and 6pm to go through your admission details. These details can be found in the Patient Information Pack which you are given prior your Pre Assessment.
 

Patients are set a number of goals to ensure they are fit and safe to be discharged.  Most patients go home between three to five days after their operation.
 

You will be ready to go home when our Therapy Team assess you as being able to walk safely using an appropriate walking aid, manage the stairs if needed and you are managing your personal care independently. The Nursing and Medical staff ensures that you are fit for discharge.
 

So long as your wound is healing well and is not red and oozing, it is best left alone. We will give you a couple of spare dressings in case you need them. We will help you make an appointment to see the nurse at your GP Surgery 10 to 14 days after your operation so that she can remove your stitches or clips, and check your wound.
 

Some patients do require ongoing physiotherapy after their discharge. If it is required we will organise this for you on an outpatient basis in your area. Some patients who have done very well post operatively just need a home exercise programme set by our Physio team.