You’ll be admitted to hospital on the day of your surgery.
The hospital staff will get you to fast for at least 6–8 hours before your surgery (including water). Your stomach needs to be empty to reduce your likelihood of vomiting, which could cause aspiration pneumonia.
Most people spend a few days in hospital afterwards. The length of your stay will depend on the type of surgery you have and how it was done.
Waiting to go into the operating theatre
Expect to wait around for a while, as you may not be first on your doctor’s surgery list.
Pros and cons of public hospitals
Understanding your hospital choices will help you decide what's right for you.