Preparing for surgery
The aim is for patients to be as prepared as possible prior to their hospital admission so that there are no unnecessary barriers to their discharge. Before admission to hospital, the patient needs to ensure that their home is easily accessible and safe to return to. They complete a lifestyle questionnaire as part of their pre-operative assessment which informs the team about their home environment and support systems in place. This helps the discharge planning process. If patients have any concerns about their discharge from hospital or the safety of their home environment, they contact SWLEOC before admission to discuss these with a member of the SWLEOC Team and they will be able to effectively plan what is required to enable a safe discharge.
Additional support
Most patients do not require any additional support or equipment prior to discharge and cope very well following their surgery. The pre-operative assessment nurses identify patients who are more complex and may require additional preoperative discharge planning. They notify the discharge nurses, therapy team and the wards, and the most appropriate clinician will contact the patient. The outcomes from the telephone call to the patient may be arranging for community OT to assess and make home adjustments, equipment provision, pre-empting that a package of care or bed-based rehabilitation may be required and to ensure that the patient has engaged as much family or friend support as possible. This is also an opportunity to alleviate any anxiety the patient may have and re-assure them about the discharge process.
Revision
Patients having hip replacement revision surgery will follow hip precautions. Additional information regarding their precaution height and furniture heights at home is needed, so that these can be mimicked as best as possible and ensure furniture heights at home are appropriate.
Preparing for surgery classes
Preparing for surgery classes are now provided in the form of an AI supported video that SWLEOC developed in collaboration with our digital partners ‘Lifebox’. The videos contain information in relation to patients preparing themselves as well as the home environment prior to the surgery. It also provides them with an overview of what to expect through their journey in SWLEOC.
Patients are sent the specific video link (links below) by the Lifebox support team, as they set up an account for the patient and remind them to watch the video. The Pre-operative assessment team confirms with the patient that the video information was received, that they watched the video and clarify any questions that they may have. Any patient who has not received the video link will be sent the link as an Envoy text message or email link by one of the discharge nursing team/admin staff.
Non-digital patients are identified at the pre-operative assessment point and are offered face to face sessions as required.
Please see links below:
Patient journey booklets
Patients having a hip, knee or shoulder replacement are given a comprehensive patient information booklet as a paper copy, at the point of being added onto the waiting list for surgery. This booklet informs them about their surgery, the pre, peri and post–admission information, pre-habilitation, preparation, their hospital stay and post discharge information.
Knee replacement patient journey booklet >