Information for carers

We hope the following information is helpful to you when looking after your friend or relative. They will have been given specific information leaflets about the Day Treatment Centre and the procedure they will be undergoing. Please make sure that you read these also.

Accompanying your friend or relative to the Day Treatment Centre

The Day Treatment Centre is situated on Level 3 of the hospital. Enter the hospital from the main entrance on Magdala Avenue and take Lift A to Level 3. Turn left out of the lift and go past the Imaging Department reception. The Day Treatment Centre reception desk is directly in front of you.

As there is limited space in the reception area, we ask that you leave this area once the patient has been booked in. You may wish to visit the Whittington Court on Level 1, where you will find the hospital restaurant and a shop selling a wide range of newspapers, magazines, snacks, sweets and drinks.

Collecting your friend or relative after their procedure
  • As soon as it is safe for the patient to go home, they will be asked to wait in the discharge waiting area at the Day Treatment Centre exit at the back of the hospital (not at reception). This is where they can be collected (Please see 'How to find us').

  • The Discharge telephone number is 020 7288 4433. Please telephone to check when they will be ready to be picked up

  • You must accompany them home by car or taxi. Public transport must not be used. Short stay parking is available at one of the parking bays. Please note this is strictly for the collection of Day Treatment Centre patients only.

Your responsibilities as a carer are:
  • To collect your friend or relative following their operation or treatment

  • To accompany them home by car or taxi. Public transport must not be used

  • To stay with your friend or relative for 24 hours (in your home or their home) until the effects of the anaesthetic/sedation wear off

  • To help them with the following activities for the first 24 hours:
    • Cooking and cleaning
    • Washing and dressing
    • Moving around and going up and down stairs
    • Making sure that they take regular painkillers as prescribed/advised
    • Making sure that they drink plenty of soft drinks to prevent loss of body fluids
    • Running any errands
    • To check on any of the common complications following surgery such as excessive bleeding; vomiting; signs of wound infection or allergic reaction.
For the first 24 - 48 hours following a general anaesthetic the patient may feel tired, dizzy or weak. They should not:
  • Drive or operate machinery or equipment such as a car, kettle or cooker
  • Sign any legal documents or make important decisions
  • Drink alcoholic drinks
After 24 - 48 hours they should be considerably better and less support and help will be needed. You should not need to stay any longer, but could perhaps offer some daytime support such as shopping, cleaning or hair washing. This often depends on the age and well being of the person and the type of operation they have had. Things to check on:
  • If they need to come back to the hospital for an appointment
  • Make sure that they have a supply of painkillers
  • Encourage them to take painkillers regularly to prevent pain getting a hold (check the instructions carefully)
  • Encourage your friend or relative to get back to normal activities as soon as possible.
If you are concerned or have questions, please phone:

Day Treatment Centre Reception: 020 7288 3824 (Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 8pm)

Discharge: 020 7288 4433 Out of hours: 020 7288 5445
Last updated23 Apr 2024
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