Preparation for Hospital Surgery
Please read through the following information to ensure that you are prepared for your surgery. A personalised email with this information (including the name of your anaesthetist and hospital with the specific links) will be send to you 1-2 weeks prior to your scheduled surgery.
Preadmission forms
Please complete your hospital preadmission forms at least 7 days prior to surgery. This will streamline your hospital admission process, making the process more efficient for you.
- Glenferrie Private Hospital
- The Avenue
- Epworth Cliveden (NB Cliveden has been closed due to the COVID19 pandemic; due to this closure Dr Tomlinson no longer has regular lists at Epworth) and Epworth Richmond
Surgical Fees
We require payment of your surgical fees 7 days in advance. You can pay by cash, bank cheque, credit card (no Amex or Diners Club) over the phone or direct deposit. To pay by credit card please use PayPal or contact us on (03) 9427 9596 so that we can take payment over the phone. Direct deposit details are located on your financial consent forms. We do not take payment for third parties (eg the hospital, your anaesthetist) although we do take payment for garments and other consumables listed on your fee estimate. If you have any questions regarding the amount to be paid please contact us on (03) 9427 9596.
You will be given an initial receipt for your payment on the day of surgery. The final itemised surgery receipt is created after your surgery has been completed, to ensure that the item codes match with the surgery performed. You will be given this final receipt at the time of your first post operative appointment, unless you request that it be sent to you earlier. This is the receipt that you can submit to your insurer or Medicare (if applicable).
Check with your Insurer
If you haven't already, we recommend that you ask your Private Health Insurer (if applicable) about:
- whether you are covered for the proposed surgery in hospital (your insurer will need the 5 digit item number on your fee estimate to answer this)
- if you have any excess or co-payments applicable to your cover
If you unexpectedly discover that you are not covered for the surgery please contact our office to discuss your options. Insurance and Medicare rebates are not applicable for cosmetic surgery procedures.
Your Anaesthetist
Dr Tomlinson works with a number of specialist anaesthetists. The name of your anaesthetist will have been provided to you in your surgery information. If you wish to contact your anaesthetist in the days leading up to your procedure please contact our rooms so we can provide you with the contact details.
The Hospital
- Glenferrie Private Hospital is located at 29 Hilda Crescent Hawthorn and can be contacted on (03) 9009 3890. More information about Glenferrie Private Hospital is available online at http://www.glenferrieprivate.com.au
- The Avenue Hospital is located at 40 The Avenue, Windsor VIC 3181 and can be contacted on (03) 9529 7377. More information about The Avenue Hospital is available online at http://www.theavenuehospital.com.au/.
- Epworth Cliveden is located at 29 Simpson Street East Melbourne and can be contacted on (03) 9419 7122. More information about Epworth Cliveden is available here.
- Epworth Richmond is located at 89 Bridge Road Richmond and can be contacted on (03) 9426 6666. More information about Epworth Richmond is available here.
Fasting Instructions
The Hospital will call you prior to your surgery date to let you know what time you will be admitted and when you will be required to fast from. If your surgery is being performed under sedation or under general anaesthetic then you must fast prior to your surgery. If your surgery is being performed under local anaesthetic only (ie if you are not having sedation or general anaesthetic) then you do not have to fast prior to the surgery.
Food: A light meal may be taken up to 6 hours prior to sedation or general anaesthetic. This light meal should not include fried or fatty foods or meat, as these foods can delay the emptying time of your stomach.
Fluids: Clear fluids up to 200ml per hour may be taken up to 4 hours prior to sedation or general anaesthetic – please stop drinking 2 hours before you arrive at the hospital. Clear fluids include water, fruit juices without pulp (orange juice with pulp is not acceptable), clear tea (tea with milk is not acceptable), and black coffee (coffee with milk is not acceptable). Alcoholic drinks are not acceptable.
Medications: You may continue your usual oral medications unless otherwise requested by Dr Tomlinson or your anaesthetist.
Specific instructions need to be followed if you are diabetic or on blood thinning medications; please discuss these with Dr Tomlinson (for blood thinning medications) or your anaesthetist (for diabetic medications).
Your Arrival Time
A Pre-Admission Patient Liaison Officer from the hospital or our rooms will contact you by phone or email in the week prior to your procedure regarding preparation and to confirm your admission time and your fasting time (if applicable). If however, you have not been contacted 24 hours prior to your procedure please contact us.
What to bring with you
Please bring the following items with you on your surgery day:
- Your Medicare card, insurance details, pensioner cards, DVA cards etc
- A list of any allergies
- Contact details for a responsible adult/ contact person
- Relevant X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRI scans
- A list of any medications or your actual medications if staying overnight
- Wear comfortable clothes
- If you are staying overnight – pyjamas/ sleepwear, change of clothes, toiletries
We also recommend that you bring something to read or keep yourself occupied with. We endeavor to minimise waiting times but even for relatively small procedures the total time in hospital can be several hours with the admission process, getting ready for surgery, being seen by Dr Tomlinson and your anaesthetist, the surgery and the recovery time. It is possible that the exact time of your surgery may be delayed if an earlier operation takes longer than anticipated; however, we ask you to be patient and calm if this occurs, your time will come!
A relative or support person is welcome to attend with you, or can arrive/ return after your procedure to take you home. Please provide your nominated persons contact details, and the hospital staff will call them to confirm the time they can collect you. Please leave valuables at home or in the care of someone you trust when they come in with you.
Leaving The Hospital
The length of time that you spend in the hospital depends on the type of procedure and anesthetic you have. The hospital staff will make sure that you are safe to go home and that your questions have been answered before you depart. If you have sedation or a general anaesthetic we require that an able bodied, responsible adult is available to accompany you home and stay with you for 24 hours. You must not drive, drink alcohol, sign legal documents or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours after having sedation or general anaesthetic.
Please don't hesitate to contact us on (03) 9427 9596 if you have further questions.
Thank you for choosing to have your surgery with Dr Jill Tomlinson.