Having an operation

Dorset County Hospital has some of the lowest waiting times for surgery in the country. For several years now all of our patients have received their surgery within six months of being listed. We accept that this is still a long time to wait and are always working hard to reduce this even further. You can help us with this by keeping us informed if:

  • you change your mind about having the operation;
  • your general health deteriorates;
  • you have any periods of unavailability such as holiday;
  • you decide to have your operation done privately.

We need to ensure that all the patients on our active waiting list are fit, willing and available to come in for surgery.

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How available do I have to be?

We recognize that having an operation requires a significant amount of planning, especially with work and family commitments. Increasingly patients will be given an opportunity to mutually agree their admission date. Where this is not possible we will aim to give you at least three weeks notice.

Because these dates are often arranged sometime in advance and because of pressure on the beds from emergency admissions there may be occasions when the hospital has to postpone your admission date. When this happens we will try to mutually agree another date with you.

Occasionally we do have cancellations or run additional lists and may telephone you to offer you a short notice admission date, which will be less than three weeks. Please be assured that if you feel unable to accept this date this will not affect your position on the waiting list.

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How is my waiting time calculated?

If your consultant feels that you need an operation your name will be added to the waiting list from the day that you attended the outpatient department. If you are unavailable to come into hospital for holiday, work or domestic reasons we deduct this period from your overall waiting time in line with national standards.

It is in your interest to keep us informed of any time that you will not be available. If you have not informed us and we call you for surgery, with a reasonable period of notice, we may return your name to the back of the list. Similarly, if you fail to arrive on your scheduled admission date your name will be returned to the back of the list.

You may feel that this is rather harsh but millions of pounds of National Health Service money is wasted though patients failing to arrive for surgery or canceling their admission dates. One lost operation slot costs the hospital an average of £400 as well as depriving another patient of treatment.

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How fit do I need to be?

We want you to be as fit as possible for surgery so you can make a speedy recovery. Your consultant will have selected the type of anaesthetic you require by balancing your general health with the type of surgery required. Depending on the extent of your surgery you may receive a form from the Anaesthetist Department in order to check your fitness for a general anaesthetic. Some patients are also asked to attend the hospital for an anaesthetic assessment.

At this appointment you will be seen and examined by an anaesthetist who may order further tests or investigations. Most patients though will only attend the hospital for a surgical pre-operative assessment.

More information about the Department of Anaesthesia.

At this appointment you will be seen by a nurse or doctor. Documentation will be completed and some routine tests undertaken. Your operation will be explained to you again to ensure that that you understand the procedure and after care. You may be asked to sign a consent form. An estimate of the time that you will be in hospital will be discussed so that you can start to make your post–operative arrangements including discharge.

If you are suspended from the waiting list for medical reasons you will automatically regain your place in the queue when you become fit again.

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What do you mean by willing?

The operation should have been fully explained to you in the clinic when you agreed to have surgery. It is important that you discuss the options and understand the risks and benefits of your surgery prior to making your mind up.

If after giving the operation some thought or discussing it with your relatives or friends you feel uncertain about going ahead please contact the Admissions Officer.

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Minimal Handling

While you are in hospital there may be times that you need help with your mobility. In order to protect our staff and reduce the risk of injury to them we have a policy of minimal handling. This means that wherever possible we will encourage you to keep as mobile as you can. However, we recognize that there may be times in your stay when you need assistance. Please be assured that our staff are fully trained to assess your individual needs and use the appropriate lifting and handling aids. If you have any queries or concerns please speak to one of the nurses.

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Discharge Lounge

Dorset County Hospital has a discharge lounge where on your specified day of discharge you may be taken to await collection. This unit has a designated pick–up and parking area which will be more convenient for your relatives. The staff in this unit are specially trained to take over your care during the remainder of your stay. This unit significantly helps the hospital by freeing beds early for patients requiring emergency admission or operations.

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