Elective Surgery Programme Implementation Support Guide

The patient must have access to a telephone in the initial 48 hours post operatively.
The journey time from the hospital to the patient‟s home should not exceed 60 minutes.
The patient should not have a major pre-existing disability.
The Day Surgery Process
The Day Surgery process spans from the time the patient is selected to post-discharge followup.
There are five equally important elements to Day Surgery:
i. Pre-admission Assessment (See Chapter 2):
The pre-operative assessment protocol should include (7,8):
Information about the day surgery experience to ensure that the patient
understands
the procedure to be undertaken and their likely post-operative course.
Assessment of the patient‟s general medical status and fitness for anaesthesia.
Assessment of the need for screening for multidrug resistant organisms such as
MRSA and pre-operative decolonisation, if appropriate..
Assessment of the patient‟s home circumstances and their ability to recruit a
carer.
Local hotel accommodation may help extend Day Surgery activity.
Reassurance that in the unlikely event that they are not ready to go home on the
day, they will be admitted overnight.
ii. Booking
Patients who require Day Surgery need to know when it will take place to allow them
to make arrangements for other aspects of their lives. Ideally booking systems should
allow patients to choose their admission date at a time that is convenient for them. A
good booking system in day surgery units has been shown to substantially decrease
cancellations.
iii. The operation
This is covered in detail in section 3 below.
iv. Recovery
64 Model of Care for Elective Surgery