Holroyd Private Hospital

When you talk to an anaesthetist, make sure that he or she gives you honest, accurate information about what types of anaesthetic can be used, what they involve, and any risks you're concerned about.

The only types of anaesthetic possible are local, regional (including spinal blocks and epidurals), and general. There is no such thing as a 'part general'.

Sometimes a sedative/anti-anxiety drug is used with anaesthetic. It causes relaxation or sleepiness, and memory loss.

If the anaesthetist suggests regional anaesthetic, ask how likely it is to work and what the options will be if it isn't effective. Probably the only options will be to cancel the operation or have general anaesthetic.

General anaesthetic always means being at a deep level of unconsciousness. People use the words 'sleep' or 'sleep-like state' as euphemisms.

General anaesthetic usually involves being given drugs by IV to cause unconsciousness, then a gas to maintain it. Sometimes it's done only with IV drugs, or only with a gas.

It always involves having a breathing tube put down the patient's throat, and their eyes taped shut.

It often involves being given drugs called 'paralytics' or 'muscle relaxants' that paralyse a patient and stop them breathing on their own. A machine called a ventilator breathes for them.

Even if paralytics/muscle relaxants aren't used, it's never guaranteed that a patient will be able to breathe on their own throughout the operation. A ventilator might be used at times.

After the operation, the patient will be taken to a recovery room and will take about an hour to wake up. They will be tired and groggy for 24 hours afterwards.

General anaesthetic has slight risks of serious injury, or going under the anaesthetic and never waking up again, or dying. It's not possible to completely eliminate these risks.

Look up information online or in books to verify what the anaesthetist tells you. Let the anaesthetist know that you will be doing this. You can also ask the hospital for a copy of your medical records after the operation, although they may be difficult to understand.

If the anaesthetist lies or misleads you about the anaesthetic or its risks, make a complaint to the hospital, the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission, or the Medical Council of NSW. You can also talk to a lawyer about suing for medical negligence.

While this hospital was very clean and tidy and the staff were polite ,friendly the level of knowledge and experience in some of the Nursing staff was very bad(majority of nurses were students and or very young and very inexperienced )The thing that shocked me the most is that they do not have any Drs based at the hospital whatsover so they would not be well placed to handle any sort of complications (as I learnt)in my opinion many things I seen as an inpatient re care of patients was very poor and incompetent in nature.

The decor is a bit outdated but the staff were great. With a referb it would get 5/5

The worst day surgery every never again

everyone was just amazing