Questions about having an operation

• I have been told I may need an operation. Where can I get advice?
• How do I find out more about my anaesthetist and the anaesthetic team?
  
• How long will I have to wait for my operation?
• What are my rights as a patient?
• My child is going into hospital. Where can I get advice?
• What do the titles of hospital staff mean?
• How can I find out what the abbreviations used by doctors and hospitals mean?
• How can I find out more about my condition or the procedure I will be having?
• I would like private surgical treatment. Where can I find out further information?
• Will it be possible for my operation to be performed as a day case?
• Will my operation be suitable for "key hole" surgery?

I have been told I may need an operation. Where can I get advice?

The thought of having an operation can be frightening for anyone. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has produced a leaflet which will give you some useful tips which may help you and the medical team. By understanding "why" and "what" is happening to you, you can play your part. As a patient you have the right to quality care and to share in the decisions on how best to solve your health problems.

See 'Having an Operation?'. Your general practitioner (GP) or staff at the hospital may also be able to provide you with information about your illness and treatment.

The BBC Health Information pages also have some useful information.

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How do I find out more about my anaesthetist and the anaesthetic team?

The Royal College of Anaesthetists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom. They provide information for patients on their website, which also has their contact details.

How long will I have to wait for my operation?

Waiting times vary for different types of surgery. You should discuss this with your GP to ensure that your GP would refer you elsewhere if a shorter waiting list were found and that the hospital of your choice would accept a referral. Your GP may need to check that funding will be available for the treatment from the Local Health Authority.

The government has set maximum targets for waiting times. In some cases, if you have to wait longer than the target time, or if you operation is cancelled and the hospital cannot offer an alternative date within a set time, it may be possible to receive treatment, paid for by the NHS, in a private hospital or overseas.

It is advisable to keep in contact with your GP whilst waiting for an operation; to discuss any options with them; and to report any changes in your condition.

The following websites offer waiting list information and, in the case of England and Scotland, search services by treatment, location and consultant:

• NHS England Waiting Times information
• NHS Scotland Waiting Times information
• NHS Wales Waiting Times information

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What are my rights as a patient?

Patients undergoing treatment have a right to expect a high level of care. There are also certain things patients can do to ensure they receive high quality care. The Royal College of Surgeons Patient Liaison Group believes it is important for patients to understand both their rights and their responsibilities in this process.

The Patient Liaison Group has produced a paper which details the rights and responsibilities of patients.

See 'Patient Rights and Responsibilities' and 'Child Patient Rights and Responsibilities'.

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My child is going into hospital. Where can I get advice?

Going into hospital can be a worrying time for children and their parents, so good information is essential. Books can help in the preparations as they provide an opportunity to talk to the child about what is going to happen.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England Patient Liaison Group has produced list of books which are recommended reading for you and your child. See 'Child Patient Rights and Responsibilities'.

The charity, Action for Sick Children, has also produced a range of patient information leaflets for children and parents.

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What do the titles of hospital staff mean?

If you need to see a surgeon, you will come into contact with a range of doctors with different titles, each indicating a different level of experience.

The Royal College of Surgeons Patient Liaison Group has produced a guide designed to explain who's who -  A Guide to Hospital Surgical Staff'.

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How can I find out what the abbreviations used by doctors and hospitals mean?

You should feel free to ask a member of staff at the time or at a later appointment if there is something you do not understand.

The Royal College of General Practitioners provide a useful list of abbreviations commonly used in medical notes.

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How can I find out more about my condition or the procedure I will be having?

There are various sources of information about conditions and possible treatments. Contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or the Patient's Association on 020 8423 8999 for advice on where to get help.

You may also like to visit the NHS Direct Online encyclopaedia of medical terms, conditions and procedures, or the medical notes section of the BBC health website.

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I would like private surgical treatment. Where can I find out further information?

It is strongly advised that patients always seek referral through general practitioners, regardless of whether they are seeking NHS or private treatment.

The following organisations may be able to provide further information about private healthcare:

The BBC Health information pages also provide information on private treatment.

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Will it be possible for my operation to be performed as a day case?

Many operations can now be performed as day cases. Suitability for day case surgery not only depends on the operation but also on the fitness of the patient and the patient's social circumstances.

The patient arrives, has the operation and goes home on the same day. The hospital will be able to answer any questions patient may have about specific arrangements of day case surgery.

Day surgery units have developed considerable experience in ensuring that this type of surgery goes smoothly for the patients and relatives. Ask your surgeon about suitability for day case surgery.

Further information may be obtained from the British Association of Day Surgery.

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Will my operation be suitable for "key hole" surgery?

Advances in surgical treatment have enabled many conditions to be treated by "key hole" surgery. Keyhole surgery is also known as "laparoscopic surgery" or "minimally invasive surgery".

Keyhole surgery usually involves very small incisions and less pain for the patient than conventional surgery.

Many operations are now suitable for keyhole surgery but among them are removal of the gall bladder for gallstones, hernia repairs particularly recurrent hernias, and operations on joints. Keyhole surgery is carried out under general anaesthesia.

Further information about keyhole surgery may be obtained from the Association of Endoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland.

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