When you come into hospital for your surgery you will need to bring with you:

• All medication you currently use in its original packaging. Ensure you have enough medication for a few days stay
• A hand luggage sized bag for your belongings
• Essential toiletries such as shampoo, a toothbrush, and toothpaste
• Your reading glasses
• Hearing aids
• Daytime clothing to wear on the ward and for when you leave
• Appropriate shoes and slippers without fastenings

Please do not bring valuables into hospital, although you may wish to bring small change.

Going home

We aim to discharge you from the ward before 11am. If you are in York Hospital, you will be taken to the discharge lounge to wait for your transport home.

If you are arranging your own transport to go home make sure:

• The car is easily accessible for you. Some SUV and 4x4 cars may be too high for you to climb into
• You ask the driver to push the passenger seat all the way back and recline it slightly
• You put a plastic bag on the seat can help you slide and turn into position more easily

After surgery care

When you are discharged from hospital we will give you guidance on how to care for yourself following your surgery.

We will give you details of the hotline number you can contact if you have any concerns. If you are concerned and need reassurance, or suspect that you might have an infection please contact us directly. Do not go to your GP.

After you are discharged from hospital, you will be contacted by a nurse for a telephone assessment to ensure that you are managing at home.

We will also arrange to see you again in our outpatient department within a couple of weeks to check on your progress and the healing of your wound. Depending on the type of surgery you have had, we may need to see you a few more times to check on your recovery.

Rehabilitation

After your surgery, the physiotherapist will give you some exercises to follow on the ward and at home to strengthen the muscles around your joint. You may be prescribed some additional sessions with a physiotherapist to help your recovery.

Click here for more information about arranging your surgery, pre-assessment and joint school.