What time should I come to hospital?

You will normally be asked to arrive at the hospital around 2 hours before your surgery. This allows time for admission and final checks before your procedure. The hospital admissions team will usually call you the day before to confirm your exact arrival time. If you need this information earlier, you can contact the hospital directly.

When you arrive, you’ll check in at the admissions unit and the nursing team will go through your details and complete the last safety steps before surgery. Please note that some operations can run longer than expected, which occasionally means delays for patients later on the list. It’s a good idea to bring a book, magazine, or something else to help pass the time while you wait.

You may continue to drink clear fluids up to 2 hours before surgery. When you check in, ask the admissions nurse to confirm your expected operation time. If there are any unexpected delays, you may be allowed another clear drink while waiting.