Most people are admitted to hospital on the day of hip replacement surgery. You’ll most likely be asked to fast to reduce the risk of vomiting during or after the procedure.
You may be asked to take a shower either at home or on arrival, and to use an antibacterial wash. This is to reduce the risk of normal skin bacteria spreading from your skin to the wound.
You may also have to fill out a consent form if you haven’t done this already.
Waiting to go into theatre
Expect to wait around for a while, as you may not be first on the surgeon’s operation list. This can be an anxious time. If the anaesthetist has ordered a pre-med, it’ll be given at this time and may help to calm your nerves.
Pros and cons of public hospitals
Understanding your hospital choices will help you decide what's right for you.