This is for anyone who is coming to Kingston Hospital for a surgical operation. 

Preparing for your operation

Fasting (no food and drink)

Follow the instructions about fasting (avoiding food and drink) in preparation for your operation.

Fasting is essential. It helps to prevent you breathing your stomach contents into your lungs while you are under general anaesthetic.

If you do not follow these fasting instructions we may cancel your operation.

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  • Do not eat after 12 midnight.
  • No chewing gum, sweets or fizzy drinks.
  • You can drink clear, still water only, up until time of surgery.
  • You can clean your teeth.

For patients arriving between 7am and 7.45am (morning surgery)

From 1am 

For adults and children:

  • No food. No chewing gum. No sweets. No fizzy drinks. No soup.
From 1am until 5am

For adults and children:

  • You may drink unlimited clear fluids:  still water, black tea or black coffee, squash.

For infants:

  • Infants may have breast milk until 3 hours before surgery.

From 5am until the operating theatre team send for you

For adults:

  • You may sip slowly on clear fluids: still water, black tea or black coffee, squash.
  • You may have 1 standard NHS cup (170 mls) per hour until the operating team send for you.

For children:

  • Up to 3ml per kilogram body weight per hour (up to 170ml per hour if 55k+).
  • No fluids for 1 hour before anaesthesia.

For patients arriving between 11am and 1pm (afternoon surgery)

  • You can eat a light breakfast (eg a bowl of cereal) before 7am.
  • Do not eat anything after 7am.
  • No chewing gum, sweets or fizzy drinks.
  • You can clean your teeth.
  • You can drink clear, still water only, up until time of surgery.
From 5am 

For adults and children:

  • No food. No chewing gum. No sweets. No fizzy drinks. No soup.
From 5am until 9am

For adults and children:

  • You may drink unlimited clear fluids:  still water, black tea or black coffee, squash.

For infants:

  • Infants may have breast milk until 3 hours before surgery.

From 9am until the operating theatre team send for you

For adults:

  • You may sip slowly on clear fluids: still water, black tea or black coffee, squash.
  • You may have 1 standard NHS cup (170 mls) per hour until the operating team send for you.

For children:

  • Up to 3ml per kilogram body weight per hour (up to 170ml per hour if 55k+).
  • No fluids for 1 hour before anaesthesia.

When you arrive

Waiting time

You may have a long wait before your operation. This is because other patients will be having their operation under the same surgical team. 

It is a good idea to bring:

  • something to read
  • a phone or tablet with pre-downloaded entertainment.

When you arrive on the day of your surgery, you can expect the following.

  • A member of our medical staff will go through a pre-operation checklist with you.
  • We routinely ask women under the age of 56 to give a urine sample for pregnancy testing. We do this to ensure patient safety and avoid potential harm to the mother and unborn baby.
  • A doctor will speak to you. They will talk to you about your surgery, and tell you how long they expect it to take. You can ask questions. If you are happy to go ahead with the operation, they will ask you to sign a consent form.
  • An anaesthetist will talk to you. They will discuss any relevant medical conditions that you may have, and any medications you take.
  • We will let you know where we will take you for recovery after your operation (either Alex Ward or the Day Surgery Unit).

Preparing for the operating theatre

When it is time for you to get ready for your surgery, you can expect the following.

  • A member of staff will let you know when you can get changed, ready for your operation.
  • We will give you two hospital gowns to put on.

LH image: put on first gown with opening at back. RH image: put on 2nd gown with opening at front

  • We will give you compression stockings to wear. For some operations, we will also give you disposable underwear to put on.
  • Keep your shoes on, as you will wear these into the operating theatre.
  • Put your clothes into a bag. If you need a plastic bag, we can give you one.
We will keep your personal items secure. We will return them to you when you arrive back at Alex Ward or the Day Surgery Unit, after your surgery.

Recovery

Most patients go to Alex Ward to recover after their operation. Some patients go to the Day Surgery Unit. 

When you arrive on the day of your operation, we will let you know where you will be taken for recovery.

Discharge

We do not allow next of kin, family members or friends into our hospital operating theatres or the recovery unit.

When you are ready to be discharged, Alex Ward or the DSU will contact your relevant next of kin, family members or friends. 

They can also call Alex Ward or the DSU using the telephone numbers below.

How to find Alex Ward 

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  • You can find Alex Ward on Level 4 of the Kingston Surgical Centre.
  • Visiting hours are 8am to 8pm every day (2 visitors per patient at any time).
  • Contact Alex Ward on 020 8546 7711 ext 2301 or 2072

How to find the Day Surgery Unit (DSU)

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  • You can find the DSU to the left of the main entrance to the hospital, next to the Maternity Unit.
  • Contact the DSU on 020 8546 7711 ext 2742 or 3102