Some items you could take with you to hospital:-

• slippers, pyjamas and nightgown
• change for the phone and television
• toiletries - it is usually possible to pick up travel sized toiletries that are lighter to carry.  For the female patient packing items such as feminine wipes, facial wipes and deodorant wipes may help you feel fresher during your stay.  For male patients - taking disbasable razors is advisable incase there are no plug sockets
• bath towel and flannel
• magazines - you may not want to read right after surgery but if you are in the day before you may want to! 
• an ipod and phone (most hospitals now allow the use of mobiles on the ward) don't forget the chargers!
• Some people may like to take their own pillow into hospital - if you do try and put your name on it or keep it close to you - it may go missing!
• your medication - if you are currently taking medication it is advisable to take it with you as it may take pharmacy a while to issue you with some medication.
• some food - ideally packaged long life food that you can have there for when you are hungry after surgery.
• paper and pens - you may want to make notes about the conversations you have with the doctors during your stay.

 

Before you go:-

Whether you have a family or live alone, it may be helpful to prepare for your stay by doing some of the following:-

• buy or prepare meals that can be frozen and easily heated up.
• wash the bed sheets - it is likely that you will be unable to wash and change the sheets after surgery.
• some patients may worry about the surgery - this is normal.  You may feel better if you prepare notes or leave instructions for close family.  This is a difficult thing to discuss but many people have these feelings and by preparing notes and letters may help eleveate some of your concern.  It is not unusual to worry about having a general anaesthetic.
• tidy up!! If the house is going to be empty during your stay in hospital leaving it tidy will help when you come home and see the house is tidy.
• write a list of contact phone numbers for friends and family - whether you have children to organise or just a partner it is helpful to have one list of phone numbers that you can pass on to all your friends, it may be helpful for you to appoint a main person who can be contacted by any friends or family.
• contact schools; whether you are a parent of a patient or a parent who is the patient it would be helpful to tell the school what is happening.  If you are a parent who is away from your children in hospital they may become upset - informing your childrens school that you are in hospital may help them by providing counselling or support during your stay.
• if you are a single parent going into hospital you may want to contact your local social services to ask what support may be available for both your children and yourself during and after your stay.  Most hospitals offer some sort of rehabilitation service to those patients who require it.

If you have any worries or concerns about how to prepare for your stay or what to take with you it should be possible to contact your hospital who should be able to offer support in this area.