For many patients, hearing that they need a procedure can immediately bring to mind an overnight hospital stay.
But not every procedure requires admission to hospital for several days.
A day hospital is designed for patients who need a planned medical or surgical procedure, together with appropriate clinical care and monitoring, but who may be able to return home on the same day when it is medically appropriate to do so.
At Virida Day Hospital, the aim is to provide specialist care in a modern clinical environment while making the patient journey as comfortable, efficient and reassuring as possible.
What happens at a day hospital?
Although every patient’s experience depends on their procedure and individual medical needs, a typical day-hospital journey follows four main stages:
Arrival and admission → Procedure → Recovery → Home when clinically appropriate
Arrival and admission
When you arrive at Virida Day Hospital, you will check in at reception and complete the necessary admission process.
The healthcare team will prepare you for your planned procedure and may confirm information such as your medical history, medications, allergies and other details relevant to your care.
Depending on the procedure, additional checks may also be required before treatment begins.
The goal is to make sure that both you and your clinical team are properly prepared before proceeding.
Your procedure
Once you are ready, you will be taken to the appropriate clinical or theatre area for your planned procedure.
Virida Day Hospital provides modern facilities where procedures are performed by the appropriate healthcare professionals, supported by trained clinical staff.
Different specialists may use a day-hospital environment for different types of procedures, which means the exact experience will vary from patient to patient.
Your treating doctor or specialist will explain your individual procedure and what you can expect.
Recovery and monitoring
After the procedure, patients are moved to an appropriate recovery area.
This is an important part of the day-hospital journey.
The healthcare team will monitor your recovery, comfort and general condition and make sure that you are progressing appropriately after your procedure.
How long you remain in recovery depends on factors such as the procedure you have had, the type of anaesthesia or sedation used, and your individual response.
There is no race to the front door. The priority is making sure you are clinically ready before discharge is considered.
Going home
One of the main differences between a day hospital and a traditional hospital admission is that patients are generally expected to return home on the same day when clinically appropriate.
Before leaving, you may receive aftercare instructions, information about medication, guidance about what to expect during recovery and details about any necessary follow-up.
Some patients may also need a responsible adult to accompany them home, particularly after certain forms of anaesthesia or sedation.
Your healthcare team will advise you about the requirements for your particular procedure.
Why might a procedure be performed in a day hospital?
Advances in medicine, surgery and anaesthesia mean that many procedures can now be performed safely without requiring an overnight hospital stay.
For suitable patients and procedures, day-hospital care may offer several advantages, including:
- a focused environment for planned procedures
- appropriate clinical monitoring and recovery facilities
- less time away from home than a traditional hospital admission
- a streamlined patient journey from admission through to discharge
However, day-hospital care is not appropriate for every patient or every procedure. The treating healthcare professional determines whether it is suitable based on the patient’s health, the procedure being performed and other clinical factors.
Preparing for your visit
If you are scheduled for a procedure at Virida Day Hospital, always follow the instructions given by your treating doctor and the hospital.
These may include guidance about eating or drinking before the procedure, medications, transport arrangements and what to bring with you on the day.
If anything is unclear, ask your healthcare team before your appointment. It is always better to ask one question too many times, than arrive unsure about what is expected.
Care designed around the day
For patients, a day hospital combines specialist treatment, clinical monitoring and recovery within one planned visit.
At Virida Day Hospital, the journey is simple:
Arrive. Receive your procedure. Recover under the care of the clinical team. Return home when medically appropriate.
Behind that simple journey is a team focused on providing professional, compassionate and patient-centred care throughout every stage of the day.
People. Care. Better Days.
Patient education only: This information is for general educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. Please consult your doctor or healthcare professional regarding your specific procedure and care.
