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Going Home

You will be ready to go home when:

  • You can safely walk the distance required and complete the stairs if needed. This may be with additional walking aids as appropriate while you fully recover from the surgery.
  • You are eating and drinking satisfactory amount
  • Your pain is adequately controlled
  • You have either passed flatus or had your bowels open
  • If you have a stoma you are able to care for it independently
  • Your blood tests are satisfactory
  • The support identified as necessary is available at home

Your discharge

Your discharge takes time to organise so please be patient while various measures are put in place

If you go home on Dalteparin injections you will be taught how to give yourself the injections. We will give you your council number to ring when you have completed the course so that they can come and collect your sharps box. The sharps box will be given to you and it is where you put your used needles.

Medication will be given to you by the ward nurses. This will include any analgesia and other medications you may need.

A copy of your discharge letter will be given to you for your reference. A copy also goes electronically to your GP.

An outpatient appointment will be made and either posted to you or given to you by telephone or given to you prior to your discharge.

You will be given open access to the surgical assessment unit (SAU) for a length of time that will be discussed with you prior to discharge, usually 10 to 14 days post-op. This will mean that if you have any concerns you can ring for advice 24 hours a day. They will advise you if you need to go to the hospital to be seen by a doctor. We would ask that you contact the Colorectal nurses if you have any questions that we can help you with. Unfortunately we are unable to look at wounds but can offer advice.

You will be advised on wound care, spare dressings will be given to you if needed. We usually advise that you make an appointment with your practice nurse to have your clips removed from 10 to 14 days. We also give you clip removers.

We will give you a spare pair of anti embolism stockings. Washing instructions are on the packet. These should be worn for 28 days post operatively. They can come off for feet washing.

If you have a stoma the stoma nurses will order you all of the necessary equipment and give you contact numbers that you will need so that more stock can be ordered

We will give you the Colorectal Nurse or Nurse Specialist numbers to contact if you are concerned about anything, please do not hesitate to ask the nurses if you have any questions at all.