Day Surgery at Adeney Private Hospital: What to Expect
Day surgery has transformed modern healthcare, allowing patients to have a wide range of procedures and return home the same day. If you’ve been scheduled for day surgery at Adeney Private Hospital, you might be wondering what the experience involves. This guide walks you through each stage of your day surgery journey, from preparation through to recovery at home.
What Is Day Surgery?
Day surgery, also known as same-day surgery, refers to planned surgical procedures where you’re admitted, treated, and discharged within the same day. Unlike traditional surgery requiring an overnight hospital stay, day surgery allows you to recover in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by family.
Advances in surgical techniques, anaesthesia, and pain management have made day surgery safe and effective for an increasing number of procedures. At Adeney Private Hospital, our purpose-built Day Surgery Unit is designed specifically for this streamlined model of care.
Common Day Surgery Procedures
Our Day Surgery Unit supports a wide variety of procedures across multiple specialties, including:
- Breast and Endocrine Surgery: procedures for treating conditions affecting the breast, thyroid, and other endocrine glands
- Colorectal Surgery: surgical treatment for conditions affecting the colon, rectum, and anus
- ENT Surgery: Tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, sinus procedures, and ear surgery
- Gastroenterology: Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and other endoscopic procedures
- Orthopaedics: Knee arthroscopies, ACL repairs, and ligament reconstructions
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Skin lesion removal, skin cancer excisions, and minor reconstructive procedures
- Upper GI Surgery: surgical procedures for conditions affecting the stomach, oesophagus, and related organs.
- Urology: Cystoscopies and selected urological procedures
- Vascular Surgery: Varicose vein treatments and minor vascular procedures
Your surgeon will assess whether your specific procedure is suitable for day surgery based on the nature of the operation and your overall health.
Before Your Day Surgery
Pre-Admission
Once your surgery is booked, you’ll receive information about completing your online admission form. This captures your medical history, current medications, allergies, and emergency contact details. Completing this ahead of time helps our team prepare for your care and reduces paperwork on the day.
You will also receive a phone call from our continuum of care nursing team to discuss your health history and answer any questions about your upcoming procedure.
The Week Before
In the days leading up to your surgery, your admission time will be confirmed. You will need to arrange for a responsible adult to collect you after your procedure and drive you home. You won’t be able to drive for at least 24 hours following sedation or general anaesthesia.
If you take blood-thinning medications, diabetes medication, or supplements, check with your surgeon’s rooms about whether any need to be adjusted or stopped before your procedure.
The Night Before and Morning Of Your Procedure
You’ll receive specific fasting instructions from your surgeon’s rooms. Your surgeon will advise when to stop eating food and drinking fluids before your admission time. Following these instructions is essential for your safety during anaesthesia.
On the morning of your surgery, shower and avoid applying lotions, perfumes, or makeup. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and leave jewellery and valuables at home.
On the Day of Your Surgery
Arrival and Check-In
When you arrive at Adeney Private Hospital, our patient services team will greet you and confirm your details. You’ll be taken to the Day Surgery Unit where nursing staff will help you settle in, take your vital signs, and prepare you for theatre.
Your surgeon and anaesthetist will visit you before the procedure to discuss the operation and answer any final questions. The anaesthetist will explain the type of anaesthesia being used—whether general anaesthesia, sedation, or local anaesthesia—and what to expect.
During Your Procedure
You’ll be taken to one of our state-of-the-art operating theatres where our surgical and nursing team will look after you throughout the procedure. Adeney Private Hospital features four modern theatres and an endoscopy suite, equipped with advanced surgical technology including robotic-assisted surgical systems.
The length of your procedure depends on its complexity, but day surgery procedures typically range from 15 minutes to a few hours.
Recovery at the Hospital
After your surgery, you’ll be moved to our recovery area where nursing staff will monitor you closely as the anaesthesia wears off. Once you’re alert and comfortable, you’ll return to the Day Surgery Unit to continue recovering.
Before discharge, our team will ensure you meet certain criteria: you should be alert and oriented, able to tolerate fluids, have stable vital signs, have adequate pain control, and have a responsible adult to take you home.
Going Home and Recovery
Before you leave, our nursing staff will provide detailed discharge instructions covering wound care, medications, activity restrictions, and warning signs to watch for. You’ll also receive information about follow-up appointments with your surgeon.
At Adeney Private Hospital, our dedicated Continuum of Care nursing team supports your recovery at home with personalised guidance. You may receive a follow-up phone call to check on your progress and answer any questions that arise after discharge.
What to Bring
When attending for day surgery, please bring:
- Your Medicare card and private health insurance details
- Any referral letters or relevant imaging and test results
- A list of your current medications
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing (consider what will be easy to put on after your procedure)
- A responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours
Zero Out-of-Pocket Day Surgery
As Australia’s first zero out-of-pocket private hospital, Adeney Private Hospital offers eligible Medibank and Bupa members access to day surgery without any gap fees (*some non-standard care not included). this includes your hospital admission, surgeon, surgical assistant, anaesthetist fees as well as any pathology, imaging or PBS-listed medications you require as an inpatient—allowing you to focus on your recovery without worrying about unexpected costs.
Tips for a Smooth Day Surgery Experience
- Complete your online admission form early to streamline your check-in process.
- Arrange your transport home in advance and ensure someone can stay with you overnight.
- Prepare your recovery space at home with comfortable seating, easy-to reach essentials, and entertainment.
- Follow fasting instructions carefully —this is essential for your safety during anaesthesia.
- Write down any questions you have for your surgeon or anaesthetist before the day.
Questions About Your Day Surgery?
If you have questions about your upcoming procedure or admission, contact your surgeon’s rooms directly. For general enquiries about Adeney Private Hospital, our patient services team is available on (03) 7049 5000.
At Adeney Private Hospital, we’re committed to making your day surgery experience as comfortable and seamless as possible, so you can get back to what matters most.