Surgical Assessment and Admissions Suite (SAAS)
The Surgical Admissions Suite cares for patients who are having elective (planned) surgery and who are expected to stay in hospital overnight or longer. The unit is located in the main corridor from the Tower entrance, and is situated above the Pharmacy department. There is a lift to the right hand side of the stairway.
What to bring
Clean dressing gown and slippers, toiletries.
Medications, inhalers and a list of what you have, the doses and when you take them – all in their original packages.
Please leave at home any valuables, large amounts of cash, credit cards, electronic items.
While you are having your operation, your belongings will be taken to the ward. The ward nurse will sign for your belongings, please inform us if there is anything that needs to be locked away.
Taking your usual medication on the day of admission:
Please take all of your normal morning medication prior to admission unless you have been advised by the hospital to stop taking a specific medication.
The nurses in SAS will collect your medications for safekeeping.
What to expect when you are admitted to the suite
On the day of your surgery, your letter will have informed you what time to arrive.
On arrival you or your relatives will be given information about the ward you will be going to post-operatively, contact numbers and visiting times. Due to restriction of space, please only bring one relative to support you.
The nurses will check your general health and your consultant and anaesthetist will visit you prior to your operation. You may be asked to give a blood sample or other specimens for testing.
Fasting
Please take your regular medication unless you have been advised to stop taking it by the hospital.
Admission at 7.15am - Please arrive having eaten nothing after midnight. You are strongly advised to drink water but only until 7am, then nothing further by mouth. Do not have tea, coffee or other drinks, do not chew gum or suck sweets/mints.
Admission for 11am - Please arrive having eaten nothing six hours prior to arrival. You should drink water only until 9am, then nothing further by mouth. Do not have tea, coffee or other drinks, do not chew gum or suck sweets/mints.
Admission for 12.15pm - Please arrive having eaten nothing six hours prior to arrival. You should drink water only until 10.15am, then nothing further by mouth. Do not have tea, coffee or other drinks, do not chew gum or suck sweets/mints.
Admission for 3pm - Please arrive having eaten nothing six hours prior to arrival. You should drink water only until 1pm, then nothing further by mouth. Do not have tea, coffee or other drinks, do not chew gum or suck sweets/mints.
Personal hygiene
Please ensure that you have a bath, shower or thorough wash before arriving and wash your hair.
It is particularly important that the area of your body which is to be operated on is clean.
Please be aware that smoking is not permitted in any building or within the grounds of any of our sites. Information and support is available to any patients who wish to stop smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to help reduce your cravings during your stay.
Free Wifi
Free Wifi is available on all our wards. If you have any difficulty accessing this, please speak to a member of ward staff.