Via Emergency Department
If you have been admitted through the Emergency Department, we request that necessary toiletries and clothes be made available to you by relatives/friends as soon as possible, for your own comfort.
Pre Assessment Clinic
The Pre Operative Assessment Clinic is an outpatient clinic facilitated by the Department of Anaesthesia. The role of a Pre Operative Assessment clinic is to assess all patients for procedures requiring general or regional anaesthesia in advance of admission. A Pre Operative Assessment clinic aims to determine suitability for anaesthesia and surgery and ensures that all necessary pre-operative investigations are preformed. A comprehensive Pre-Operative Assessment and preparation service is fundamental to high quality, safe practice.
Pre Operative Assessments will be performed by either telephone assessments or review in an outpatient clinic depending on your medical history or complexity of surgery.
What to expect at your visit to the Pre Operative Assessment Clinic:
- Pre-operative investigations performed.
- Optimization of your health before surgery.
- Information on pre-operative plan, day of surgery and post operative care.
- An opportunity to discuss any questions, concerns or fears you may have about your surgery or hospital admission.
- Assessment of your level of independence, home support and social circumstances.
- Discussion of discharge planning.
- Specific information provided regarding anaesthesia related issues, for example fasting and medication management.
If you need to attend this clinic you will receive a letter, please note the following:
- Please present at the reception of the Surgical Day Ward on Level 3 in the main hospital building.
- Please bring all medications with you.
- You do not need to fast for this appointment.
- If you are unsure of your medical history please ask your GP for a letter with these details
- If you are taking any of the following drugs: Warfarin, Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Clopidrogel, Aspirin, HRT, Oral Contraceptive Pill please contact this clinic for advice regarding medication management prior to surgery.
- The Waiting List Office will be informed when you are deemed fit for surgery, and a date for surgery will then be provided.
To contact us please call 01-6466364 or Bleep 900
Elective/Planned Admissions
It is advisable to confirm your appointment prior to admission date if it is requested of you to do so on your appointment letter, by contacting the Patient Flow on (01) 646 5216 / 5217 or (01) 6465000 and ask for bleep 110.
It is important that you follow any special instructions issued regarding your admission. Please present to the Admissions Office located beside Reception in the main hospital concourse. Wheelchairs are available in the main lobby if required.
Cancellations
Occasionally cancellations may be unavoidable. This is to accommodate emergency cases. Should this happen a new admission date will be issued to you. If you need to cancel your admission, please call the waiting List Office on the number indicated at the bottom of your appointment letter, or the Scheduled Care Patient Flow Nurse Manager on (01) 646 5288.
Questions you need to ask about your care
· How long will I be in hospital?
· What can I expect to happen to me during my time in hospital?
· When I leave hospital, will I be able to go directly home?
· How soon should I feel better after leaving the hospital?
· If I need help and care at home after I leave hospital, who will help me to
· Are there any special instructions for daily activities?
· Will I need any special equipment at home? Who will help me to arrange this? Is this equipment covered by my insurance or medical card?
· Will I need to have other treatment following my time in hospital? (E.g. Therapy). Are there any exercises that I need to do? (If so, ask for written instructions).
· Will there be any follow-up appointments?
· Do I need to have any special tests? Who will give me the test results?
· Do I need to schedule any follow-up visits with my GP?
· Will I be able to walk, climb stairs, go to the bathroom, prepare meals, drive, etc?
· When can I expect to return to work?
· Do I need to have any special tests? Who will give me the test results?
Valuables/Disclaimer
Do not bring money or valuables into the Hospital. The Hospital cannot accept responsibility for any items kept by patients throughout their hospital stay. Send valuables home with relations/friends.
Discharges
If you or your family think that there are any reasons why you may not be able to go home when your illness had improved please let the doctors and nurses know as soon as possible.
It is important that hospital beds are vacated by 11am on the day of discharge
Before you leave:
· Check that you have all your belongings
· If you have a wound, do you know what care is needed? Have you stitches or clips that need to be removed?
· If yes, has your Public Health Nurse been asked to call on you? Please note that PHN will only see patients with medical cards
· Do you need a medical certificate? If yes, ask your doctor before discharge.
· Do you need an Out-Patient appointment or follow-up care? If yes, make sure you have your letter of appointment before you leave.
· If there are any problems after you are discharged, do you know who to contact? If no, ask the Nurse before discharge.
· How are you getting home? Has transport been arranged?
· Do you have your clothes and house keys?
· Speak to a member of the medical / nursing team about how long it might be before you will be feeling better and can expect to resume usual activities.
· If your physical abilities have changed as a result of your illness, make sure you understand about what you can and can’t do when you go home.
· Ask staff questions about what has happened to you, and what changes you can expect in your health and daily activities when you return home.
· Speak with a member of staff if you have any questions or concerns.
If you have any questions after you leave hospital, you may wish to contact your General Practitioner (GP) or Public Health Nurse (PHN) or call the hospital switchboard on 01 646 5000 to be connected to a member of the Multidisciplinary team.
Questions you need to ask about your medicines
- What medicines will I need to take at home? Get a complete list of all your medicines at discharge, including any changes made while you were in hospital. Take this list with you when
- Can I get written instructions about my medicines? Ask any questions before you leave the hospital.
- Are there any drugs (including non-prescription drugs) or vitamins that I should not take with my medicines?
- Are there any food or drinks that I should avoid while taking my medicines.
Medication is not supplied by the hospital. It is very important that you get your prescription filled on your day of discharge.
Medical Card Holders should take prescription to their GP on the day of discharge in order that it is transferred onto a General Medical Services Form. This form can then be handed to your local pharmacist for medication.
If you cannot get to your GP on the day, most Pharmacies will give you a small supply of medicines until your paperwork is complete.
Non medical card holders should take the prescription directly to the pharmacist on the day of discharge and obtain their medication.
Planning your transition from hospital to home
The majority of people require no special services after they have been discharged home. If you require some extra assistance then the hospital staff, you’re GP and primary, community and continuing care (PCCC) staff will help you to plan ahead so that the appropriate arrangements can be made before you are discharged.
Your discharge plan
From the day you are admitted to hospital, a number of different staff involved in your care (the multidisciplinary team or MDT) will work with you, your relatives and carers to plan your discharge.
Your length of stay will depend on your condition. The date of your discharge will be agreed and discussed with you by the consultant and the multidisciplinary team.
Please advise your nurse, as early as possible in your stay, if you think you will have any problems with going home.
On the day of your discharge please make arrangements to be collected.
After you leave the hospital
When you leave the hospital, hospital staff will prepare a discharge communication (a summary of medical information about your treatment, your test results in hospital and ongoing services that have been arranged for you such as out patient appointments). This communication will be given to you and a copy will be sent to your GP.
The Public Health Nurse (PHN) and other community services will be notified of your discharge if applicable.
You may wish to make an appointment to see your GP following discharge. If you feel that you are not well and/or are not managing at home, contact your GP and/or PHN. You may wish to make an appointment to see your GP following discharge. If you feel that you are not well and/or are not managing at home, contact your GP and/or PHN.
