Preparing for Surgery

Initial Contact

If you are recommended for surgery, you will receive a letter from the Admissions Department confirming your name has been placed on the surgical waiting list. This letter will include a Preoperative Assessment Pack containing a:

• Medical Questionnaire
• Consent Form and
• Information on your surgical procedure

Please complete and return the Medical Questionnaire immediately, as failure to do so will delay surgery. Responses help us assess your health and surgical suitability and highlight potential risks.

Upon receipt of the completed form, a member of the Preoperative Assessment Clinic will contact you to discuss the information provided and arrange a Preoperative Assessment, if necessary.

Admission Date Confirmation

Once approved for surgery by the Preoperative Assessment Clinic, you’ll get advance notice of your surgery date and a sample Surgical Consent Form to review. You don’t need to sign it now; another will be provided upon admission.

Upon receiving this letter, contact the Hospital to confirm or reschedule your appointment. Call the Admissions Department’s answering service and provide your name, patient reference number, date of birth, and a brief message to confirm or cancel the appointment.

+353 (1) 814 0334

admissions@nohc.ie

Admission Date Reminder

You will receive another letter before admission, providing the following information:

• Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who will perform your surgery
• Details of your procedure
• Admission date and time
• Hospital charges
• Preoperative Instructions: relating to medication, fasting (if required), items to pack, and other advice relevant to your procedure and hospital stay.

When preparing for surgery, we recommend the following:

• Take a shower or bath the night before admission
• Remove nail varnish, false nails, piercings, false tan, eyelashes, hair extensions, body lotions and jewellery.
• Follow the fasting and medication instructions provided by the Preoperative Assessment Clinic. 
• If you suspect you might be pregnant, please inform the Admissions Department. If pregnancy is confirmed, we will defer your procedure to a later date.
• If you are under 16 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must accompany you to the Hospital. And should you require inpatient care, a parent or guardian must remain with you for the duration of your stay.
• You should not wear removable braces and dentures during surgery.

Download “What to Bring?” Checklist

Some medications need to be stopped before surgery. The Preoperative Assessment Clinic will inform you which ones. If you have questions, ask your GP. Only stop medications if instructed by a medical professional.

Medical terminology can be difficult to understand, especially if English is not your first language. If you require translation services, please contact the Hospital before admission so we can engage a suitable interpreter to assist you. Contact the dayward on + 353 (1) 814 0400.

Before undergoing surgery, it is important that you receive detailed information about the surgical procedure, including its risks and benefits. This information will help you decide whether to proceed with the surgery. It will also set your expectations for recovery and assist your postoperative planning.

Before surgery, you will be asked to sign a consent form confirming you have received and are satisfied with the information provided and that you wish to proceed. This is known as Informed Consent. It is a safeguard to ensure that you understand and accept the process, risks and benefits, and potential outcomes of surgery.

Paediatric Patients
A parent or guardian must accompany patients under 16 years and sign consent for surgery on their behalf.