"Day Case Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy"

Sonning Ward.

Day case surgery worked well for me as a fit woman in her early sixties who had previously come through general anaesthetic well and had someone to care for her at home. Many thanks for the skill and care of all staff involved

As a potential patient you may be wondering how cost cutting will affect your op. Relax

Continuity of care. I saw the same efficient Staff Nurse throughout my stay (7.30 am to 6 pm). The hospital met its own Patient Contact Rules. I was in a side room and the door was left open after surgery and before my Husband returned so they could peek in. I felt safe in a strange place/situation

Heating. It’s a bit cold with one thin blanket. Like hotels there is another blanket nearby. Situation greatly improved by your own dressing gown. You will be given extra blankets when coming round from anaesthetic if you have “the shivers”

Food. You won’t be feeling like a gourmet meal after surgery. A choice of brown/white toasts, butter, jam/marmalade, hot drink and jug of water will be given

Gown collection. A small collection of used gowns had built up on the shower chair. Although no body fluids were seen, it was off-putting. They were removed while I was in theatre

Pay for tv. I was not offered this, which was good as it enforced rest. Balancing TV revenue against overnight stay this makes financial sense. The ward is a quiet place anyway

Discharge. Nurse Discharge happens for this procedure and is carried out efficiently by a Senior Staff Nurse and you will be given discharge letter. Having said that the Keyhole Surgeon saw me leaving in the distance and charged over to explain how op went. Thank you for going the extra mile

Medicines. Although a prescription for paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine phosphate is offered you are steered away from taking it up by being told of a possible long wait at Pharmacy. Whether this is to encourage you to go directly home or save on hospital drugs costs, or both, it is not possible to say.

There is no "few weeks later" visit for this procedure so staff may be unaware that through lack of water/food before op/normal exercise/change of body routine/ use of CO2 gas to separate organs, led to constipation/congestion problem (!!!) Day 3. I had not used Codeine

Conclusion. Though this is a no-frills service, patients can be confident that this is a very safe hospital to have this operation as a day case if they meet the criteria.