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Preparing for surgery

• Our practice team will step you through the necessary processes when you are ready as they can seem confusing and overwhelming at first due to the way the Australian healthcare system is structured. Rest assured that we always endeavour to make all the steps as manageable as possible for our patients.

Organising your surgery

  • Be sure to check over and action all information received from Dr Wilkinson’s rooms and the hospital where you are going to be admitted.

Preparing for your surgery

  • Be sure to follow the preparation instructions which may include:
    • not eating or drinking from a specified time prior to surgery; and
    • not taking certain medications for a specified number of days prior to surgery.
  • Patients undergoing surgery for Graves’ Disease or Phaeochromocytoma will be provided with specific instructions for preoperative management.

On the day of your surgery

  • Arrive on time, unrushed, and relax as the hospital admissions team does the check-in.
  • If you are staying overnight, you may then be shown to your room or bed where you can leave your belongings. If you are having day surgery you will take your belongings with you.
  • You will then see, not necessarily in this order:
    • Dr Wilkinson
    • the anaesthetist
    • hospital nurses who will be looking after you before, during, and/or after surgery.
  • We want to make sure you know what to anticipate, so please ask any of us if you have any questions at any time.
  • At some stage, you will be requested to change into a hospital gown and be prepared for theatre. You will then be accompanied into theatre where you will have a general anaesthetic, and then surgery will proceed.
  • Next you will wake up in the recovery room and the medical and nursing staff will assist with your recovery until you are ready to be moved to the hospital ward or the day surgery lounge prior to being discharged.

After your surgery

  • Dr Wilkinson will see you on the morning ward round to check on your recovery and explain what needs to be done afterwards. This may include likely dates for pathology results, further proposed tests or further treatment.
  • Be sure to follow the post-operative instructions you receive from both the hospital and Dr Wilkinson.
  • Get some decent rest and sleep in the days following surgery as this will help you to recuperate.
  • Call the office to make a follow-up appointment, and do further tests prior to that visit as required.

Please find Post-Op Instructions here: Click to download