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Day Surgery

Preparing for your day surgery at Forster Private Hospital.

Your Hospital Booking

The booking for your hospital stay will be made through your Doctor's rooms.

Please ensure you complete the green forms in the admission booklet and return them to Forster Private Hospital. Note: the Informed Consent section of the form must be completed in hard copy with your Doctor.

Where possible, we require your admission forms one week prior to your admission date. This will ensure we can confirm your hospital booking and your eligibility prior to your admission.

In some cases the Doctor will book you in for the next day. In these cases it is important that you contact us as soon as possible, and speak to the Administration staff to confirm your admission and details relating to your stay.

Costs and Insurance Cover

The cost of your procedure will depend on your level of health insurance. Should you have any questions regarding the cost of your procedure or surgery, please contact the hospital and speak with our Administration staff.

It is your responsibility to pay for any costs that you may incur.

Contact your insurer (health fund, Workers Compensation insurer or other) to confirm exactly what costs will be covered.

For further information, refer to the following sections:

Payment Methods

We accept cash, Mastercard, Visa or EFTPOS. Please note that all credit card transactions will incur a 0.5% surcharge.

Admission Confirmation

It is important to confirm your details including the date and time of admission, your procedure and your expectations relating to discharge and post discharge care prior to your admission.

Please phone the Day Surgery Unit on (02) 6555 1555 the business day before your admission between 11:00am and 4:00pm to confirm your time of admission, and any other requirements.

In cases where you have been booked for admission at short notice (within a few days) it is important that you contact us as soon as possible, and speak to the Administration staff to confirm your admission and details relating to your stay. Before speaking with the Administration staff, please ensure you have the following information ready as applicable to you:

  • Name and contact details of your next-of-kin and a second local contact person
  • Name and contact details of your General Practitioner
  • Medicare card
  • Department of Veterans' Affairs card
  • Pension card
  • Health Care card
  • Safety Net or Concession card
  • Private health insurance membership card
  • Health history and a list of current medications

Admission Requirements re COVID

Patient Preadmission screening for COVID 19

All patients being admitted to Forster Private Hospital must have a Negative result from a Rapid Antigen Test (R.A.T.) for COVID 19. Patients should conduct the R.A.T. at home and bring evidence of the negative result.

Patients attending day programs (Dialysis, Day Rehab, Day Psych, Oncology) should have a weekly R.A.T.

Symptomatic patients that present with a Negative R.A.T. are to have a negative PCR, prior to admission. If the patient must be admitted to the hospital, the patient must be treated as a Suspected COVID positive patient until the result of a PCR is obtained. Management of the patient will then be determined by the result.

PCR testing

  • All aerosol generating procedures ( ENT, Endoscopy and Dental ) will require evidence of negative PCR test within the previous 24-48hrs. Evidence of text message confirmation from NSW health will be required at admission
  • PCR screening is required for any patients with COVID-19 symptoms whose admission cannot be deferred, or is asymptomatic but a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 person.

Getting Ready for Hospital

  • Please shower at home before coming to hospital
  • Do not apply talcum powder, deodorant, make-up, nail polish etc
  • Please remove all body piercings
  • Wear loose and comfortable clothing
  • Please advise your admitting Doctor of your current medications and confirm if you should continue to take these medications prior to your admission

What do I bring to hospital?

Please bring the following items with you to hospital, where applicable:

  • All medications you are currently taking (in original packaging)
  • Any letters from your Doctor
  • Relevant Xrays
  • Medicare card
  • Private health insurance membership card
  • Pensioner card
  • Veterans' affairs entitlement card
  • Safety Net or pharmacy entitlement card
  • Drivers license or accepted identification
  • WorkCover or other insurance details
  • Dressing gown and slippers or comfortable shoes
  • Glasses and physical aids (walking sticks, hearing aids)
  • Personal entertainment device or a book to read

Please do not bring the following items:

  • Jewellery
  • Large sums of money
  • Other valuables

The hospital doesn't accept responsibility for security of your possessions, including jewellery, watches and money.

Fasting

Fasting details will be advised the day prior to your admission by our Administration staff or your Doctor.

It’s advisable to refrain from smoking a minimum of twelve hours prior to your surgery or procedure.

Cold or Illness

Please contact the hospital or your Doctor if you develop an illness prior to your surgery.

On Arrival

Your admission time will have been advised by the hospital’s Administration staff. It’s most important to arrive on time for your appointment as you may require medication prior to your operation.

Our day of surgery admission centre is located around the corner from the main entrance of the hospital in Breckenridge Street. Our friendly experienced staff at Forster Private Hospital are dedicated to ensuring the safety, comfort and well being of our patients is looked after both prior to and following your procedure.

You will be escorted into the operating suite for your procedure and then depending upon your type of procedure; you will be either returned to day surgery area or taken into the recovery room.

Our operating theatre suite compromises of 2 large well equipped operating theatres, a recovery room and the sterilising department. We have new state of the art equipment enabling us to carry out our procedures.

We undertake the following services within the theatre suite:

  • Endoscopy
  • General surgery
  • Gynaecology
  • Urology
  • Orthopaedic
  • Dermatology
  • Oral maxillofacial
  • Ophthalmology
  • Ear, Nose & Throat

You may experience some delay or waiting time prior to your surgery. This delay is necessary to accommodate the clinical scheduling requirements of your treating Doctors. We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

What to Expect

Many diagnostic procedures only require sedation in order to make you pleasantly drowsy, yet comfortable enough for the Doctor to perform the necessary procedure.

Usually a sedative drug is given via a needle inserted into the back of your hand. Many patients don’t recall this, and only become aware when they are back in the recovery unit.

After your operation or procedure, you’ll be made comfortable while your condition is monitored until you’ve fully recovered. Once you have recovered, you’ll be offered a light snack prior to discharge.

For more complex procedures, the length of stay will depend on your condition after your procedure.

Accommodation

Please be aware that our Day Surgery (short stay) facilities are shared unisex accommodation.

Discharge

Before leaving the Ward or Day Surgery Unit, all patients are required to be formally discharged by our hospital Administration staff.

Please ensure you speak to staff at one of our Reception areas prior to leaving the hospital. Upon discharge, you’ll be given any necessary instructions, including a prescription for any medications and details of any follow up appointments with your Doctor.

A comfortable seating area is provided in the hospital foyer, for you to wait for your transport home.

Getting Home

If you’ve had heavy sedation or a general anaesthetic, you won’t be permitted to leave the unit alone. Please note the following:

  • You’ll need to arrange to be picked up and organise a responsible adult to be present with you for the first night you are home following general anaesthesia
  • Staff will contact the person who is picking you up when you’re fit to go home
  • Transportation home by taxi is not permitted without a responsible adult who accepts responsibility to take you home
  • For your own comfort and safety, you shouldn’t consume any alcoholic beverage for at least 24 hours after discharge
  • After general anaesthetic, patients aren’t permitted to drive any motor vehicle, operate machinery or make any important decisions for at least 24 hours

Special arrangements can be made to assist DVA patients to get you home safely after your hospital stay.