Admission to hospital

When you arrive you will be brought up onto the ward and welcomes by a member of our nursing team. There is a day room that you and your family members or friends can wait in until your bed is ready. 

When you are settled we will do the following:

  • Check your personal details and give you an identification bracelet to wear during your stay.
  • Record your basic observations, such as blood pressure, pulse and weight.
  • Introduce your to your named nurse who will look after you. Their name will be written on the board above your bed along with the estimated date of your discharge or EDD.
  • We may take some blood from you.

You will be seen and assessed by one of the medical team and your consultant or their registrar will discuss your case and procedure with you and explain the consent process. You may be seen by the anaesthetist when you arrive or on the day of surgery.

You will be given a daily injection of Dalteparin in your stomach until your day of discharge. This medication helps to prevent blood clots. You can also help with this by getting out of bed and moving around the ward, maintaining regular leg exercises and wearing your anti- thrombolytic stockings, which we will give you.

We will tell you when your surgery will take place and give you advice on when you should stop eating and drinking (nil by mouth).

There is a pharmacist within the service that will check your medication before you have surgery in order to advise how to manage your medication. Depending of your health conditions, some medicines might no longer be required during the liver reduction diet, and others will need adjustment and/or monitoring by your GP after surgery as well. The pharmacist will go through your medicines one by one at the pre-assessment clinic, and provide you with a specific medication plan and information about all the supplements you will require after surgery.

Day of surgery

On the day of your operation you can expect the following:

  • You will be advised by nursing staff to take a shower.
  • If you are diabetic, you may be put on a drip the night before your surgery to help stabilise your blood sugars and your BM recordings will be checked every 2 hours by the nursing team until you go to theatre.
  • You will be given a gown and anti-thrombolytic stockings to wear.
  • A registered nurse will carry out some pre-surgery checks.
  • You will be asked to remove all jewellery, make up and any nail varnish. If you do not wish to remove your wedding band this can be taped and secured by the nursing team.
  • You will be taken to theatre on your bed by one of our Porters. One of the nursing team will come with your and hand you over to the theater team who will also carry out a series of checks
  • The theatre porters will come to the ward to collect and transfer you to theatre on your bed. You will be accompanied to theatre by a member of nursing staff and handed over to the care of theatre staff where another checklist will be carried out.
  • After you surgery you will be brought back to the ward where you will be made comfortable. Your observations will be recorded and a full check carried out of your wounds, drip site etc. Your observations will be taken every hour for the first 4 hours, every 2 hours for a further 4 hours and then subsequently every 4 hours.
  • You will be kept nil by mouth with a drip in place to keep you hydrated.
  • Whe you are able you will be encourage to move around. You will also have a flowtron machine attached to your legs which compresses the veins and pushes the blood back towards the heart. This then deflates again after a controlled time. This action copies how the veins are squeezed by the muscles when you walk. Intermittent compression also helps to break down some of the proteins in the blood that can cause blood clots. You will be reviewed by the surgical team and closely monitored by nursing staff.

After your surgery

If you have no problems overnight you will be encouraged to start drinking a litre of water throughout the day. Your drip will be maintained in order to ensure you are hydrated.

Your wounds will be checked and redressed by nursing staff.

Observations will continue to be monitored every 4 hours or more frequently if required.

You will be encouraged to get up and moving and walk to toilet/bathroom with help.

Your pain and nausea score will be monitored and actioned by nursing staff.

You will be reviewed by surgical team on ward rounds.

The nursing team will take a routine blood sample from you.

If you have been able to drink and we are happy with your observations and level of pain, you will be able to start have some pureed foods today. 

You will be reviewed by the surgical team on ward rounds.

If you are well and your blood results have come back ok you may be allowed to go home today or tomorrow.

You must be reviewed by the dietitian before you can leave the hospital. You will also be seen by pharmacist who will arrange any medication for you.

If you are diabetic, you may be reviewed by a member of the diabetic team before you leave the hospital.

You will be asked to go to your GP surgery so a nurse can chack your wounds. If this is not possible, it can be arrange for a nurse to come and see you at home.

Going home

You will be given advice on how to look after your wound before you go home and give some dressings to take with you. You will also be given a letter for your district or practice nurse advising that a wound check will be required. A copy of the letter will be sent to your GP electronically. 

A discharge checklist will be completed.

You are expected to continue to wear your anti-thrombolytic stockings for 4 weeks after your surgery (you can remove at night) and a spare pair of these should be given to you.

If you need us to arrange transport to get your home, please speak to one of the nursing team as soon as possible

Medical staff will be able to provide a Fit (sick) note for you if require. Remember to ask about this before you go home.

You will have been provided with some information from the dietitian and specialist nurses, please ensure you take this home with you and read it.

The nursing team may take you down to our discharge lounge where you will be made comfortable while you wait to go home.

If you have any problems or questions following discharge please contact the ward on 0191 569 9732 or the Bariatric Specialist Nurses on 0191 565 6256 ext 42570/42708.