Illness

If you come down with any cough or cold in the immediate period prior to your surgery, please contact our rooms and seek guidance. If you infection is severe, your procedure may need to be delayed until you recover, and this is better done in advance. Cancellations on the day of surgery may lead to longer delays in rebooking, particularly in public hospitals.

Luggage/clothing

If you are staying in hospital a few nights, ensure you bring appropriate clothing for your stay in hospital, and for the trip home. It is also worthwhile packing some books or your computer/tablet for entertainment both before and after the procedure – hospitals were sadly no designed for entertainment, and boredom can be a challenge that is hard to overcome.

Diet

You will need to fast for at least 6 hours prior to your surgery. The timings for this will be confirmed closer to your date, and will be conveyed to you by staff from the hospital you will be having your surgery in. No specific dietary restrictions exist prior to this – ensure you have a healthy diet and are in good physical shape prior to your procedure.

Showering

For all joint replacement surgeries, you will be given a special body wash to use the night before and day of surgery. Use this just as you would soap, ensuring you clean not only the site to be operated on, but your whole body. These are designed to decrease the total bacterial load on your skin surface, and so reduce your infection risk.

Wounds, cuts and grazes

If you sustain an injury on the limb to be operated on, your procedure may need to be delayed until this has healed. Procedures performed when there is an open wound, particularly if it shows signs of infection, lead to increased deep infection rates. If such a scenario exists, seek urgent review with Dr Host who will arrange a review of your wound. If need be, the procedure will be delayed until all wounds have healed.

To prevent such an occurrence, in the period leading up to your surgery, limit your outdoor activity. In particular, leave the gardening and lawn mowing to someone else – you do not want your procedure cancelled. Wrap yourself in the proverbial cotton wool and enjoy all that day time television offers.

Transport

Though you may be in a fit state to drive yourself to the hospital, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Pre-arrange someone to help you get to and from the hospital, and save headaches on the day. You are not legally allowed to drive for 24 hours after an anaesthetic, and though you may technically be able to do it, your insurance would be void if you did. It is thus not worth the risk to yourself, to others, and to your wallet. If you require assistance with this, contact the hospital you will be having your surgery in – community transport options may be available to assist.

Bathurst Base Hospital

Howick St,
Bathurst
NSW 2795

Lithgow District Hospital

Great Western Hwy,
Lithgow
NSW 2790

Bathurst Private Hospital

51 Gormans Hill Rd,
Gormans Hill
NSW 2795