Pre-surgery checklist: what you need to organise

Every year, more than 350,000 New Zealanders have elective surgery. From hip replacements and kidney stone removal to mastectomies and plastic surgery, that’s a lot of procedures around the country every day.

And while the skilled professionals on your surgical team have spent years learning, training, and upskilling in order to carry out your procedure, there are also a few things you can (and should) do to prepare yourself and your loved ones for what’s to come.

For example, you’ll probably want to know as much as you can about your surgery and what to expect. You’ll also need to ensure your body is as healthy as possible for the surgery to ensure the best possible outcome, and you’ll need to sort out a few life admin tasks before you go into hospital as well.

Getting organised

You’ll need to pack a bag for your time in hospital, and organise your transport to and from the hospital (assuming that you won’t be able to drive yourself – let’s not even think about what kind of parking costs you’d be paying if you did), and make sure your friends and family know what to expect.

Suffice to say, making a to-do list will help you keep on top of it all and ensure you don’t forget to bring a spare pair of undies to the hospital.

That’s why we’ve put together a pre-surgery checklist to help you work through all the things you need to do before you head in to have your procedure. Even if each item on the list is not applicable to your specific situation, it will help you to be as organised and ready as possible – and all the best for your recovery!

23 Nov 2021