Does day surgery embarrass the primary health care team? An audit of complications and consultations

Psychological preparation for patients undergoing day surgery

“…However, the main criticisms centred on the long pre-operative waiting period, lack of postoperative privacy and the provision of insufficient information. Willis et al (1997) in a postal survey discovered positive correlations between receiving written information and level of satisfaction, and receiving an explanation and recommending day surgery to a friend. what information patients required from their anaesthetist in the pre-operative period and to identify which patients desired more information.…”

“…To enable both patients and their carers to gain much needed advice following discharge eight studies recommend the use of telephone helplines (Kempe and Gelazis 1985, Kleinbeck and Hoffart 1994, Lewin and Razis 1995, De Jesus et al 1996, Wedderburn et al 1996, Willis et al 1997, Heseltine and Edlington 1998, MacAndie and Bingham 1998. Moreover, in an in-depth study by Donoghue et al (1995) data collection partially involved a telephone interview.…”

“…For the patient who initially requests a standard level of disclosure but subsequently requires more information in the post-operative period (and indeed for all patients in the postoperative period), a nurse initiated telephone call system 24 to 48 hours following surgery could be established. Many studies have vigourously supported such a move as pockets of undisclosed information can be quickly disseminated (Lewin and Razis 1995, De Jesus et al 1996, Wedderburn et al 1996, Willis et al 1997, Heseltine and Edlington 1998, MacAndie and Bingham 1998.…”