Day Surgery

The Southern Highlands Private Hospital Day Surgery Unit provides a friendly, caring and comfortable environment for certain operations and procedures that do not require an overnight or extended stay.

Day surgery is a modern concept made possible through new anaesthetic and surgical techniques, reducing your hospital visit to one day or just hours. The highest quality care is maintained with the benefit of being discharged on the same day.

Day surgery effectively reduces anxiety normally associated with undergoing surgical procedures and it is the ideal way to avoid disruption at your work or home.

The style of accommodation has been specifically designed with a short stay in mind. However, if the need arises for you to remain in hospital overnight, you will be transferred to the Surgical (Waratah/Acacia) or Medical (Banksia) wards.

We deliver care by experienced and dedicated staff. Some of the surgery performed includes:

• Urology (cystoscopy, removal of stones, uretoscopy and insertion of stents)
• Gynaecology (dilation and curettage, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, filche clips and adhesions)
• Gastroenterology (scopes, banding and haemorrhoids)
• Neurosurgery (epidurals and facet joints)
• Orthopaedics (arthroscopy and removal plates/ pins)
• Plastic surgery (grafts and flaps)
• Varicose veins
• General surgery (vasectomy, lumps and bumps)
• Dental (molars)
• Eye (cataracts and blepharoplasty)
• Carpal tunnel and ganglions
• Ears Nose and Throat (grommets, tonsillectomies)

Prior to coming

Please see here

Preparing for surgery

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Your Stay

When you arrive at the Hospital, you will register at the Reception Desk as instructed by the Admissions Clerk. In most cases, your admission will have previously been arranged.

If you have any questions regarding your procedure and brief stay in hospital, please contact Reception on (02) 4862 9400.

To enable staff to prepare you adequately for your procedure there may be a waiting time between your admission and procedure time.

There is parking located at the front of the hospital and also in the surrounding streets in Sheffield Street and Bowral Street.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Hospital or the Hospital grounds or surrounding footpaths. Nicotine patches are provided by the patients doctor if required.

If you have any concerns or queries about your care whilst you are a patient in our Hospital please bring them to the attention of the nurse in charge who will be able to answer questions and resolve problems related to your hospital care.

Children often need special support when coming into hospital for surgery. To make children more comfortable it is encouraged that they bring comfort items such as a teddy, blanket and dummy etc. These may accompany the child to theatre. Also feel free to bring the child’s special drinking cup or bottle as required at home. In most cases one parent/ caregiver may accompany the child into theatre. Once the child is settled in the recovery unit the parent/ caregiver may sit with the child until he/ she returns to the ward. These options will assist in making your child’s hospital experience more comfortable. For further information please do not hesitate to contact us on (02) 4862 9400.

When you are admitted please ask our staff if mobiles can be used in your room. Mobiles may be used in all public areas including the coffee shop. Southern Highlands Private Hospital does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage to your mobile phone.

Please note that due to the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (C’wealth) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW), only limited information can be given by staff over the phone. Information about surgery can only be given by the surgeon in person. We trust you understand this is a legal requirement.

A public telephone is located adjacent to reception.

Post surgery

After your procedure you will be taken to the recovery area. During this time, our nursing staff will continually monitor your progress and comfort.

Your length of stay in the recovery area will depend on your operative procedure. Usually patients are discharged no longer than 2 hours after treatment.

Before you leave the Hospital, our staff will give you full instructions about dressings, medications and follow-up appointments.

Discharge Information

You will not be able to drive home, so please make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home.

For the first 24 hours, it is important if you have been given any form of sedation that you DO NOT:

• Drive a car
• Drink alcohol
• Remain on your own - you must have a responsible adult to stay with you overnight.

Depending on the surgery performed, some patients may experience certain sensations including: nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, visual disturbances and fatigue. These symptoms are normal but should they persist beyond 24 hours, or you have any concerns, contact your doctor immediately or contact the Hospital on the following numbers:

Business hours: (02) 486 29400
After hours: (02) 4862 9420

Within 48 hours of the procedure, one of the Day Unit’s nursing staff will contact you to enquire about your progress and well-being.