Waiting for surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital

If you have been seen by an ENT surgeon and placed on the surgical waiting list at St Vincent’s Public Hospital Sydney, this page explains the process, how to prepare for your operation and who to contact while you wait.

Staying in touch — CareMonitor

CareMonitor is the preferred way to communicate with St Vincent’s Hospital while you are waiting for surgery. It is a secure mobile app that lets you communicate directly with the hospital’s Surgical Admissions Team and receive important information about your upcoming surgery. Through CareMonitor you can:

• Contact the Surgical Admissions Team with questions about your upcoming surgery
• Receive updates and reminders from the hospital
• Complete pre-operative questionnaires and forms
• Update the hospital about changes to your health, availability or readiness for surgery
• Access information about preparing for your operation

Once you have been accepted onto the surgical waiting list, the hospital will send you a text message with instructions for downloading and registering for CareMonitor (available for Apple and Android). We strongly encourage patients who can use CareMonitor to download the app and check it regularly. If you do not have a smartphone or prefer not to use CareMonitor, you can still proceed with surgery: contact the Surgical Admissions Team on (02) 8382 3000 to arrange a paper-based alternative.

Understanding the surgical waiting list

Once your surgeon recommends an operation through the public hospital, you are placed on the elective surgical waiting list. Your surgeon assigns a clinical urgency category based on your condition and NSW Health guidelines:

• Category 1 — urgent: surgery recommended within 30 days
• Category 2 — semi-urgent: surgery recommended within 90 days
• Category 3 — non-urgent: surgery recommended within 12 months

These are recommended timeframes rather than guaranteed surgery dates. The hospital schedules surgery according to clinical urgency, operating theatre availability and hospital resources. Questions about your public hospital surgery date or waiting list position should go to the Surgical Admissions Team through CareMonitor, not to your surgeon’s private consulting rooms.

What if my condition changes while I am waiting?

If your symptoms worsen or you are concerned your condition has changed, see your GP for reassessment. If your GP believes your condition has become more urgent, they should provide written clinical information supporting a review of your surgical urgency category; your surgeon and the hospital can then review your priority. If you develop severe or rapidly worsening symptoms needing immediate attention, do not wait for a response through CareMonitor: attend an emergency department or call 000 in a medical emergency.

Keeping your details up to date

It is important that the hospital can contact you when a surgery date becomes available. Use CareMonitor to tell the Surgical Admissions Team if your phone number or contact details change, you will be unavailable for surgery on particular dates, your health or medical conditions change, or you are no longer able or willing to proceed. If the hospital cannot contact you, or you repeatedly decline offered dates, your place on the waiting list may be affected and reassessment may be required.

Preparing for your surgery

Before your operation you may be asked to attend a pre-admission assessment, in person or virtually, to review your medical conditions, medications and suitability for anaesthesia. Attend all requested appointments and complete any questionnaires or investigations required. If you are having day surgery under general anaesthesia you will usually need a responsible adult to collect you from hospital and stay with you overnight — arrange this before your surgery date.

Who will perform my surgery?

St Vincent’s is a teaching hospital, and your surgery will be performed by an appropriately qualified ENT surgeon or surgical team. Your operation may be performed by a different ENT consultant from the surgeon who first assessed you, and ENT surgical trainees may take part under appropriate supervision.

Can my surgery be postponed?

Occasionally surgery has to be postponed because of emergency operations, unexpected bed shortages or other hospital requirements. The hospital makes every effort to minimise disruption, but an allocated date cannot always be guaranteed. If your operation is postponed, the Surgical Admissions Team will give you further information.

After your surgery

Your post-operative care will generally be coordinated through the St Vincent’s Hospital ENT outpatient service. Before discharge you should receive information about recovery, post-operative instructions and follow-up. If you have concerns after your operation, phone St Vincent’s Hospital on (02) 8382 1111 and ask for the on-call ENT registrar. For urgent post-operative problems, attend the nearest emergency department with ENT services.