Patients and Visitors

Pre-admission and surgery

Pre-admission and surgery

Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming if you don't know what to expect. The following information addresses the most commonly asked questions regarding day or overnight surgery. You should ask your doctor or specialist for more specific information about the surgery you will be having.

Please follow all pre-operative instructions given by your doctor carefully. Failure to do so may result in your procedure being delayed or cancelled. Check with your doctor if you should take your regular medication on the morning of the operation / procedure.

Note: As of 28 September 2020, Category 2 and 3 elective surgeries have resumed at Ipswich Hospital. 

What to expect

Your letter from the hospital will tell you the date and time of your admission and where to go when you arrive at the hospital. It may be a ward, an admission clinic or a day surgery unit. If you are unsure where to go when you arrive, ask at the main reception or information desk which is usually in the hospital's main foyer. On arrival your details will be checked by hospital staff. To help us provide quality care, we need to know complete and accurate details of:

  • your medical history
  • details of any medicines you are taking
  • current address and phone number
  • details of your general practitioner or other treating health professionals
  • your Medicare number 
  • details of your private health cover or any other cover that might fund your hospital stay
  • any current advance health directive or enduring power of attorney, and copies of these documents
  • details of any workers' compensation claim 
  • your need for an interpreter or cultural support worker.

Click here for more information about what to bring to hospital.