What is planned surgery?

Planned surgery (also known as elective surgery) refers to planned surgical procedures that can be booked in advance. This is different from emergency surgery which is unplanned.

Patients requiring planned surgery in the public system are added to a waiting list and assigned a category to reflect the clinically recommended waiting time for their specific procedure.

These categories are based on national guidelines:

  • Category 1: Patients are considered urgent and hospitals will try to ensure you receive surgery within 30 days.
  • Category 2: Patients are considered semi-urgent and hospitals will try to ensure you have surgery within 90 days.
  • Category 3: Patients usually have their surgery booked within a year.

Each hospital has a planned surgery waitlist to ensure that those who urgently need surgery are seen first. At Northern Health your surgery date is based on:

  • how urgent the need for your procedure is, and
  • the order that we receive referrals for surgery.

What to expect if you are having planned surgery at Northern Health

If you are assessed by a surgeon as requiring planned surgery and have provided your consent, you will be placed on the planned surgery waitlist at Northern Health.

When it is your turn for surgery, our Surgical Liaison Nurse will contact you to talk about the date of surgery, need for a pre-admission appointment, further tests needed before the surgery, and any other information that you will need.

You can discuss with your nurse if you need access to any Aboriginal, disability or cultural and linguistic support services as well as transport and accommodation support (if eligible) in preparation for surgery.

We have prepared a series of videos that show you what to expect if you are having planned surgery at Northern Health. We hope it will make you feel more comfortable and confident about your surgery.

Welcome video
What to expect during your surgical journey at Northern Health.

Your Preadmission Appointment
What to do if you are invited to the pre-admission clinic.

Day of Your Surgery
What will happen on your day of surgery.

After Your Surgery
What will happen after your surgery as part of the discharge process from hospital.

We also have patient information sheets:

Planned (Elective) Surgery Centre – Admission Information
Kilmore Planned Surgery Centre – Admission Information		 What to do before your surgery, coming in for your surgery and after your surgery.
Preadmission Clinic What happens in the pre-admission clinic (if you have been asked to attend the clinic).
Welcome Pack Key information regarding your hospital stay.

What happens while I’m waiting for my surgery?

Seeing your GP

Your GP or treating specialist is best placed to manage your health care until you are treated.
It is very important to see your GP if your health is getting worse, you have new pain, or if your pain is getting worse. If needed, they can make direct contact with the hospital to arrange a reassessment of your planned surgery waiting list category.

We encourage you to see your GP:

  • to ensure other health conditions, such as diabetes, are being managed.
  • about support for quitting smoking and alcohol.
  • how you can plan for surgery and what help you may need during and afterwards.

Preparing for Surgery

It is very important that you continue to look after your health before your surgery. You can help prepare for surgery by eating well and doing regular activity, such as walking.

For more information about how to prepare for your surgery to get the best outcome, see Getting ready for surgery and my recovery in My Surgical Journey on the Safer Care Victoria website.

Once you have your surgery date, there are certain things you should do to prepare, especially in the week leading up to surgery. To find out more, see I’ve been given my surgery date in My Surgical Journey on the Safer Care Victoria website.

Book an extended GP appointment for after your surgery

Did you know that people who see their GP in the week after leaving hospital following surgery are less likely to go back into hospital with a problem?

When you get a surgery date it’s important to ask your healthcare team if you will need a GP appointment after you get out of hospital. If you do, book an extended appointment time for the week you will be back home.

Your surgeon will provide the outcomes of your surgery and your care plan to your chosen GP, this is called a discharge summary.

Seeing your GP is an important part of monitoring your recovery.

Further information

Safer Care Victoria has a website called ‘My Surgical Journey’ which has information on what patients need to know about having surgery. www.safercare.vic.gov.au/consumer-resources/my-surgical-journey

The website includes information and checklists to guide you through every stage of your surgical journey, including: