Coming into hospital

Arriving at Greater Lancashire Hospital

When you visit Greater Lancashire Hospital, you could be treated as:

• An outpatient – You’ll attend an appointment without needing a bed or staying overnight.
• A day case (day patient) – You’ll be admitted to an ambulatory ward patient pod for a procedure, but won’t require an overnight stay.

Pre-Operative Assessment

In some cases, a pre-assessment appointment is needed before your treatment. This appointment, conducted by our pre-assessment nursing team after your consultation, will involve:

• Discussing your medical history and overall health to ensure you’re suitable for the treatment, including checking your fitness level and assessing the impact of any anaesthetic.
• Performing any necessary tests, scans, or screenings depending on your planned treatment (e.g., scans or swabs to assess infection risk).
• Reviewing any medications you’re taking.
• Providing a detailed explanation of your treatment.
• Offering guidance on your recovery, such as what to expect and any home arrangements you may need to make.
• Discussing any special requirements you may have, such as mobility or dietary needs.
• Answering any questions you have.

During Your Hospital Visit

Outpatients

As an outpatient, you will visit the hospital for a consultation, test, or scan without needing to stay overnight. Outpatient services are typically arranged after a GP referral to one of our consultants, who are specialists in various fields.

What to Bring to Your Appointment:

• Any medications you’re currently taking.
• Notes on your symptoms, condition, and any questions you have.

If you are coming for a consultation, it will take place in one of our consulting rooms. Your consultant will go over your medical history and any previous tests or scans you’ve had. If you haven’t received a diagnosis, your consultant may suggest further tests or scans. They will explain:

• The purpose of the recommended tests or scans.
• When they will be scheduled (you may need to return for these).
• When to expect the results.

After completing any necessary tests or scans, your consultant will:

• Review and explain the results with you.
• Discuss possible treatment options, either in a follow-up consultation or over the phone, depending on your situation.

Next Steps

Following your diagnosis, your consultant will:

• Outline a personalised treatment and recovery plan based on your specific needs.
• Ask about your lifestyle, goals, and medical history to tailor the treatment and aftercare plan.
• Clarify the next steps and schedule a follow-up appointment to begin treatment.

If you require surgery, you will receive advice on preparing for surgery along with an information pack to take home.

Day Case Patients

If you are a day case (or day patient), you will not need to stay overnight. Your visit may involve a test, scan, or minor procedure.

What to Bring:

• Your medication or prescriptions.
• Something to keep you occupied while you recover (e.g., a book, e-reader, or mobile device).

Your consultant or nurse will inform you when you can go home. Before leaving, we may provide advice on:

• Next steps in your care.
• Managing any pain.
• Caring for any wounds you may have if surgery was involved.
• Your expected recovery time and tips for speeding up recovery.
• When you can resume normal activities, such as driving or returning to work.

A follow-up appointment may also be scheduled to monitor your progress and determine if further treatment or tests are needed.

Care at Greater Lancashire Hospital

Greater Lancashire Hospital is committed to providing the care you need during your treatment. If your health needs change unexpectedly and exceed our capacity, we may arrange a transfer to another hospital, typically within the NHS, to ensure your safety and well-being.

We would only transfer your care if it was essential for your health.

If you have any questions once you are home, your healthcare team is available to answer your queries. Some treatments include follow-up appointments to make sure you are recovering as expected.