Be sure to take your medication as prescribed. If antibiotics have been prescribed, take them as directed to help prevent infection of a surgical site or wound.

If you require any further advice regarding your medication, please feel free to contact the hospital pharmacy team. Our pharmacists will be more than willing to assist you with advice. For your convenience, the contact details of the pharmacy can be found on any of the medicine labels if our pharmacy dispensed it.

• Most wounds should be kept closed with the dressing applied in the ward, until your follow-up appointment. However, check with your doctor and follow their advice.
• If you are required to change your dressings, ensure that your doctor or nurse has explained to you when and how to go about that, and how often the dressings should be changed. Make sure to wash your hands before changing the dressing and preferably wear gloves. Avoid touching the actual wound.
• Avoid getting the dressing wet, especially during shower and bath times.
• Please do not remove any stitches or clips.
• If you see visible bleeding or oozing under the dressing, or if the wound feels warm or you feel feverish, please contact your doctor.

• Follow your doctor’s orders on taking medication and/or wearing elastic stockings to prevent clots from forming.
• Make sure that you get up from bed regularly or move your legs and feet in the bed.
• If you have excessive pain, are short of breath, or you notice swelling in one or both legs, please contact your doctor immediately.

If the prescribed medication does not help to keep your pain under control, please contact your doctor.

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Persistent cough
• Severe pain
• Burning sensation when passing urine
• Change in appetite
• Vomiting

If you are concerned about your condition or recovery after discharge, please don’t hesitate to call your doctor or go to your nearest emergency department for assistance.

Check with your doctor and follow their instructions on when you can start resuming normal activities.

• Allow yourself time to recover, especially if you have had an acute episode of your condition.
• Make sure you rest enough with regular periods of minor activities to help prevent blood clots.
• Follow any specific instructions your doctor provided when you were discharged.
• Eat a healthy diet, eat regularly and take in adequate fluids, especially water, to help with regular bowel movements, unless otherwise indicated by your doctor.

Make sure to diarise and keep this appointment, so your doctor can determine your recovery progress.