Information for Patients and Carers about eating and drinking before planned surgery and procedures
Step 1
- To keep you safe and able to have your surgery you must not eat food for 6 hours before your surgery
- No food, sweets, chewing gum, fizzy drinks for 6 hours before your surgery
- Continue to sip still water
- Take all medications, tablets and inhalers as normal unless you are told otherwise.
If you are asked to come to the hospital for morning surgery:
- Eat your evening meal as normal on the day before surgery
- Have a snack in the evening if you want
- Do not eat anything after midnight
- Drink only clear fluids after midnight
Note: ‘Clear fluids’ includes water, black tea or black coffee (no milk).
If you are asked to come to the hospital for afternoon surgery:
- Have a light breakfast before 7.00am on the day of surgery
- Do not eat anything after 7.00am
- Drink only clear fluids after 7.00am
Step 2
- Drink only still water right up until your surgery (unless your anaesthetist or surgeon tells you otherwise)
- No sweets or chewing gum
- You can bring a reusable water bottle with you to hospital
If you do not follow these instructions for eating and drinking, we may need to postpone your surgery.
This information does not apply if you are pregnant.
The exact time of your surgery may not be confirmed until on the day as you will be part of a theatre list with other patients. We ask more than one patient to arrive for the start of the day to help ensure flexibility if there are last minute changes and to allow the theatre staff to see you before the surgical session begins.
Drinking clear fluids before your operation reduces dehydration and headaches before surgery and reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery. It is safe for you to sip water until the time of surgery unless the team looking after you has advised otherwise. The nursing team will be able to advise you of this on the day.
Your Anaesthetic
We encourage you to read through the website and discuss any questions you may have about your anaesthetic with your pre-assessment nurse or anaesthetist.
We have provided some information and links to other resources to help you get ready for your surgery. You will also find information about your recovery and getting back to normal life after your surgery. The aim is to help you maximise your chances of recovering quickly and help prevent complications.
You can download the below patient information leaflet for more information: