Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
As part of our commitment to improve the quality of services we provide to patients, we have Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programmes for patients undergoing specific elective operations.
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multidisciplinary approach to help people recover more quickly after major surgery. It’s sometimes called rapid or accelerated recovery.
The aims of enhanced recovery are to ensure you:
- are as healthy as possible before your surgery
- get the best possible care during your surgery
- get the best possible care during your recovery
Having an operation can be both physically and emotionally stressful. Enhanced recovery tries to get you back to full health quickly and safely.
Research has shown that the earlier a person gets out of bed and starts walking, eating and drinking after having an operation, the shorter their recovery time will be.
For more information on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery click here
Before surgery
You will meet your surgeon to discuss the risks and benefits of your planned surgery. Your family, carers and GP will also be involved in early discussions, to help you understand and plan for your surgery.
You will then attend an assessment clinic with a nurse or anaesthetist, where we will ask about your general health and check you’re fit for surgery. You should bring along any prescriptions with you.
Before your surgery, you should also:
- continue to move and exercise
- stop smoking, to reduce the risk of complications
Day of the surgery
You will go to the ward on the day of your surgery, where you will meet with:
- the surgical team
- the anaesthetist
- nursing staff
You should stop eating food 6 hours before your surgery this includes chewing gum and sucking mints or sweets. You are able to drink clear fluids such as plain water or black tea/coffee with no milk up until 2 hours before your surgery.
When it’s time for your surgery, we will transfer you to theatre where we will take your blood pressure and observations before starting anaesthetic.
Once your surgery has finished, you will be moved to the recovery area before going back to the ward.
After your surgery
We will help you get moving and eat normally as soon as possible after your surgery. Any pain or sickness will be treated, so we can get you back on your usual diet.
Once your anaesthetic has worn off, our nursing staff will help get you up and about, sometimes this is on the day of your surgery or the day after and you will be encouraged to spend as much time out of bed as possbile. Our main aims will be to help you:
- manage your pain after surgery
- improve nutrition
- stay mobile
- get home as quickly as possible
