Going Home

Discharge

Your doctor will inform you when you are ready for discharge. You are advised to get a family member or friend to accompany you home on the day of discharge. 

A discharge certificate will be given to you before you leave the ward. If you need a medical certificate, please inform the doctor or nurse in advance so that it can be prepared before you leave.

Medication

You can collect your discharge medications from Discharge Pharmacy at Block 4 Level 2, where our pharmacists will advise you on the medications and explain how they work. We will provide you with the new medications started during your hospital stay, and any long term medications with changes in dose.

Safe and effective use of medication

• Only take pain medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• Take medications before your pain becomes severe.
• Do not drink alcohol while taking your medications.
• Stop medication if allergic reactions appear e.g. rashes on body, swollen eyes and see a doctor immediately.
• Continue taking your long-term medications as directed by your doctor.

Check Out Time

The Hospital’s check out time is 10.00am. Patients who check out after 1.00pm will be charged an additional day’s rate. If you are waiting for someone to take you home, you may do so at the Discharge Lounge. There is no charge for use of the Discharge Lounge.

Follow-Up Care and Appointment

Before you leave the ward, you will be advised on how to take care of yourself during your recuperation at home

The ward staff may give you an appointment for follow-up at the Specialist Outpatient Clinic. Should you need to reschedule your outpatient appointment after your discharge, please call our appointments line, at Tel: 6321 4377, or change your appointment online here.

Medical Report

If you need to make a claim from your insurance company, you may submit your insurance form to, or apply for a medical report online at the Medical Report Office. An administrative charge will be levied for the application.

Discharge Instructions

Activity/Rehabilitation

Continue with the exercise regime as taught by the multi-disciplinary healthcare team to improve muscle tone and keep your joints flexible. Increase your daily self-care activities gradually as tolerated. 

Nutrition/Diet

• Eat a well-balanced diet. There are no restrictions on your diet unless prescribed.
• Pain medication may cause constipation. We encourage you to eat fruits and vegetables in moderation every day.
• Ensure you drink 8 glasses of water daily unless contraindicated.

Safe and effective use of medication

• Only take pain medications as prescribed by your doctor.
• Take medications before your pain becomes severe.
• Do not drink alcohol if you are taking pain medication.
• Stop medication if allergic reactions appear e.g. rashes on body, swollen eyes and see a doctor immediately.

Wound Care

• Keep your dressing clean and dry.
• Do not apply any lotions, creams, powders or ointment over the incision site.
• Check your wound daily for:
  • Redness
  • Swelling / Warmth
  • Discharges (blood, pus or fluids)
  • Odour
  • Increasing pain
• Your surgical wound is usually closed by absorbable sutures that do not need removal. Your nurse will advise if you need removal of sutures/ staples.
• A referral form for wound care will be given to you upon discharge. Refer to the form for the date of dressing change and date of removal of sutures/ staples (if necessary).
• You may leave the wound exposed if instructed to do so.
• You would be reviewed by the Advanced Practise Nurse followed up by the Consultant review 

When and how to seek further treatment 

Seek urgent medical consultation with your doctor at the Specialist Outpatient Clinic during office hours or at the Department of Emergency Medicine after office hours, if any one of the following conditions occur:

• Swelling or redness at the operated site
• Discharges from the wound
• Fever of 38 degree celcius and above
• Body Chills and/or sweating
• Increased numbness and weakness of the limbs
• Increasing pain over the surgical site
• Discomfort that is not relieved by medicine, rest or ice packs
• Your legs are cool to touch, dusky in color, numb, tingling or if you develop calf pain
• Any other abnormal and/or prolonged symptoms which cause concern