Patient & visitor information

• After you have been to your GP and they have referred you to see a specialist for your treatment, you will come for a ‘First Specialist Appointment’.
• You may/may not be selected to come for your procedure at the ESC.
• A specialist will decide this when they meet you at your first appointment.
• It will be dependent upon your medical condition at the time and the type of surgery you might require.
• You will receive a call from our surgical bookings team to arrange this appointment.
• You will receive a letter confirming the time and date to come in.
• You may/may not come to the ESC for your specialist appointment - your letter will confirm exactly where you have to go.
• Some outpatient appointments can occur at Waitakere Hospital or at North Shore Hospital clinics.
• At the appointment, you will meet your surgeon and he/she will consider:
• your condition,
• your circumstances
• your health status
• and decide whether an operation will be suitable for you
• Before you leave:
• you will see a nurse, who will give you some information about your impending operation and brochures that for you to read through thoroughly
• we ask you to complete a questionnaire form about your current health status, which will be used to determine if you are well enough to have a general anaesthetic
• In some instances, you may be asked to return and meet your anaesthetist for an appointment.
• You will receive a phone call from our team if this is required.
• You will be contacted again (within four months of having your first appointment), to see if you are available to come for surgery. 
• You will be provided with some dates for you to consider.
• You will be informed if you are coming for your surgery at the ESC, or somewhere else.

Peri-operative Co-ordinators

We have a small team of nurses called Peri-operative Coordinators who oversee your journey from when you are confirmed as requiring surgery, until your surgery date.

• The team is responsible for following up on results and managing referrals to other services, within the Waitemata DHB.
• We aim to provide your surgery within four months of having your initial appointment.
• If you have any concerns or questions prior to you surgery date, please contact one of them.
• The team work Monday to Friday between 08.00am and 4.30pm and they can be contacted on the following numbers:
• General Surgery – 09 443 9072
• Orthopaedic Surgery – 09 484 6020
• Gynaecology or Urology Surgery – 09 484 6026
• They will call you if you have any blood or urine results that need follow-up and discuss any treatment that may be required.

On the day of surgery, we ask that you follow these simple steps to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day:

• follow the instructions given to you regarding eating and drinking times and taking or stopping your medication
• do not shave the area near to your surgery site as cutting or grazing your skin, may lead to your surgery being cancelled
• please have a shower and wash your hair prior to coming in to hospital
• please ensure all your make-up nail polish and jewelry has been removed (wedding bands are OK to keep on if you cannot remove them)
• please try to wear warm and comfy clothes when you travel to the hospital, so you remain as warm as possible right up to your operation
• please allow for plenty of time when travelling into hospital. It’s better to arrive early than late

Please note that if you are having foot, joint or leg surgery, you may require crutches. You will need to leave a refundable $30 deposit IN CASH for the loan of our crutches, so please make sure you have this with you before you are discharged.

• ESC Patient Information Pamphlet
• Self Assessment Form
• Patient Feedback Form
• Patient Registration Form

Visiting hours are from 8am – 8pm. 

Please note visiting hours can vary for each ward. Call ahead if you are unsure.

Now I’ve got my letter confirming the date, what happens before I come in for my operation?

The day before your operation one of our nurses will phone you. They will discuss with you: 

• what time you should arrive at the ESC on the day
• the time when you should stop eating and drinking from
• when to stop taking any medication you may be taking if required
• if you are taking aspirin or blood thinners, such as warfarin

You will need to arrange suitable transport to get to the hospital 

Patients who are discharged from the ESC on the same day of surgery: 

• will need to make prior arrangements for being collected after their recovery
• and then have someone responsible looking after them in the next 24 hours after surgery
• please bring your carer's name and contact number so we can contact them when you are ready to go home.

What do I bring with me on the day?

If you are to stay overnight after your operation, bring an overnight bag with:

• comfortable and practical sleepwear
• slippers
• a dressing gown
• your toiletries
• your glasses
• walking aids etc
• some reading material.

Also bring:

• any test results
• doctor's letters or ACC documentation
• X-rays
• any medications you currently take
• yellow medication card (if you have one)
• your Community Services Card (if you have one).

There are free televisions at each bed space for your entertainment.

If you are a day patient please bring loose-fitting, comfortable clothing to go home in.

Please AVOID bringing valuables with you, as we cannot take responsibility for them

Can I have visitors?

• Yes, visitors are welcome at the ESC
• Visitors are asked to respect the patients on the ward
• Visiting hours are between 8am and 8pm.

Can I drive home afterwards?

• After having any surgery and/or anaesthesia, you are not allowed to drive yourself home
• Please arrange for somebody to collect you to take you home and spend the first 24 hrs with you
• Please refrain from drinking alcohol, operating machinery or signing legal documents for at least 24 hours.

What happens when I arrive at the Elective Surgery Centre on my day of surgery?

• You will be greeted by our receptionist
• They will take your details and ask you to take a seat in the waiting area
• One of the pre-admission nurses will collect you from there and take you through to the pre-operative area
• Once there, the nurse will take your weight, blood pressure, temperature and height
• Then the surgeon and anaesthetist will come and see you and fill out and sign your consent forms
• You will wait to be collected to go through to theatre

Sometimes you may need to wait for quite a while before going into operating theatre but we provide reading material and a television to watch to break up the time.

What happens if I am having a big operation, such as a hip replacement or a knee replacement?

We have designed special videos for three common procedures – a hip or knee replacement and a hernia repair. These videos explain the procedure and how to prepare for it in advance, particularly what to expect after the procedure has taken place.

• Hip replacement
• Knee joint replacement
• Hernia repair