What to bring with you for gynaecological surgery
There are a few things you will need to bring with you for your hospital stay. This page gives helpful suggestions, but it is not a full checklist. You may bring other items that you find useful.
On this page
What to bring
If you are staying in hospital as an inpatient, you will have a bedside locker for your personal items. Space around the bed is limited, so please only bring essentials items. This helps us keep the area uncluttered, clean and safe.
If your stay is longer than a week, you may need more belongings. Family and friends can bring in clean clothes and take home any laundry, as the hospital does not have washing facilities for patient use.
Essentials
These are the main items most patients find useful during a hospital stay:
- Your usual medication
- Nightwear or loungewear and underwear (around three changes if you are staying overnight)
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes to go home in
- A dressing gown, if you have one
- Slippers. Slipper socks are provided on admission
- Basic toiletries such as hairbrush, hairbands, toothbrush, toothpaste, dentures and shampoo and shower gel
- Glasses or contact lenses, along with their case, wipes and solution
- Hearing aids, spare batteries and the storage case
Non-essentials
These items are not required but can make your stay more comfortable:
- Mobile phone and charger
- Things to keep you occupied, such as a tablet, book, magazines, playing cards or a colouring pad
- A small amount of money (no more than £20)
- Makeup
Items you should not bring into hospital
- Large amounts of money (a maximum of £20 is recommended)
- Alcohol
- Valuables such as jewellery or expensive electronics
The hospital cannot take responsibility for any personal belongings, so keeping items to a minimum helps ensure they remain safe.
Food and Drink
The catering team will provide three nutritious meals each day during your stay. If you would like extra food or snacks, you will need to bring these yourself. A fridge is available in the ward pantry, but space is limited. Please give any food that needs to be kept cold to a member of staff so it can be labelled and stored safely..
Hot and cold drinks such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate and squash are available on the ward.
Medicines
Please bring all your current prescription medications such as:
- Inhalers
- Creams
- Eye drops
- Injections
- Patches
- Any other medicines that you purchase yourself and regularly use such as herbal ointments.
Please bring all medication in their original packaging. Show them to staff when you arrive. Your nurse will store them safely for you.
Contact information
If you have any concerns or questions regarding your surgery, please contact your Gynaecology Cancer Nurse Specialist or your GP:
Gynaecological Cancer Nurse Specialists
Tel: 0300 422 4047
Tel: 0300 422 3181
Email: ghn-tr.gynaecologycancernurses@nhs.net
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
If we cannot take your call, please leave a short message with your name, MRN number, date of birth and contact number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.