# Discharge Discharge The expectation by the patient and healthcare team should be that the patient will be going home the same day . Therefore, unless there has been an unexpected anaesthetic or surgical issue the patient should routinely have a nurse-led discharge. Patients should meet any pre-agreed general criteria ( Table 22.5 ) as well as any surgery-specific criteria prior to discharge. In general, there should be no time restriction except for certain procedures, e.g. patients should remain in hospital until 6 hours after tonsillectomy . /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF The patient should receive written and verbal postoperative instructions and a phone number to contact should they have a problem out of hours. This must be a phone with a suitable person to advise and not an answerphone. Take-home medications should provide adequate pain relief and may include an antiemetic. These should be prescribed when the patient is in theatre and pre-packs of common analgesics should be used to improve the e ffi ciency of prescribing and reduce delays to discharge . All day surgery patients should be telephoned the day after surgery to provide support and to check that they have no problems. This call can also be used to collect valuable audit data, which can be used to refine the day surgery pathway . Vital signs stable for at least 1 hour Correct orientation as to time, place and person if appropriate Adequate pain control with supply of oral analgesia Understands how to use oral analgesia supplied Ability to dress and walk where appropriate Minimal nausea, vomiting or dizziness Has taken oral /f_l uids Minimal bleeding or wound drainage Has passed urine (if appropriate) Has a responsible adult to take them home Written and verbal instructions given about postoperative care Knows when to come back for follow-up (if appropriate) Emergency contact number supplied Discharge The expectation by the patient and healthcare team should be that the patient will be going home the same day . Therefore, unless there has been an unexpected anaesthetic or surgical issue the patient should routinely have a nurse-led discharge. Patients should meet any pre-agreed general criteria ( Table 22.5 ) as well as any surgery-specific criteria prior to discharge. In general, there should be no time restriction except for certain procedures, e.g. patients should remain in hospital until 6 hours after tonsillectomy . /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF The patient should receive written and verbal postoperative instructions and a phone number to contact should they have a problem out of hours. This must be a phone with a suitable person to advise and not an answerphone. Take-home medications should provide adequate pain relief and may include an antiemetic. These should be prescribed when the patient is in theatre and pre-packs of common analgesics should be used to improve the e ffi ciency of prescribing and reduce delays to discharge . All day surgery patients should be telephoned the day after surgery to provide support and to check that they have no problems. This call can also be used to collect valuable audit data, which can be used to refine the day surgery pathway . Vital signs stable for at least 1 hour Correct orientation as to time, place and person if appropriate Adequate pain control with supply of oral analgesia Understands how to use oral analgesia supplied Ability to dress and walk where appropriate Minimal nausea, vomiting or dizziness Has taken oral /f_l uids Minimal bleeding or wound drainage Has passed urine (if appropriate) Has a responsible adult to take them home Written and verbal instructions given about postoperative care Knows when to come back for follow-up (if appropriate) Emergency contact number supplied Discharge The expectation by the patient and healthcare team should be that the patient will be going home the same day . Therefore, unless there has been an unexpected anaesthetic or surgical issue the patient should routinely have a nurse-led discharge. Patients should meet any pre-agreed general criteria ( Table 22.5 ) as well as any surgery-specific criteria prior to discharge. In general, there should be no time restriction except for certain procedures, e.g. patients should remain in hospital until 6 hours after tonsillectomy . /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF The patient should receive written and verbal postoperative instructions and a phone number to contact should they have a problem out of hours. This must be a phone with a suitable person to advise and not an answerphone. Take-home medications should provide adequate pain relief and may include an antiemetic. These should be prescribed when the patient is in theatre and pre-packs of common analgesics should be used to improve the e ffi ciency of prescribing and reduce delays to discharge . All day surgery patients should be telephoned the day after surgery to provide support and to check that they have no problems. This call can also be used to collect valuable audit data, which can be used to refine the day surgery pathway . Vital signs stable for at least 1 hour Correct orientation as to time, place and person if appropriate Adequate pain control with supply of oral analgesia Understands how to use oral analgesia supplied Ability to dress and walk where appropriate Minimal nausea, vomiting or dizziness Has taken oral /f_l uids Minimal bleeding or wound drainage Has passed urine (if appropriate) Has a responsible adult to take them home Written and verbal instructions given about postoperative care Knows when to come back for follow-up (if appropriate) Emergency contact number supplied