Preparing for neurosurgery and your recovery

Preparing well for surgery can help you recover from surgery more quickly with fewer complications:

• Search “RCoA Fitter, Better, Sooner.”

For easy to read information about having surgery, read this leaflet:

• Having an operation with anaesthesia: An easy read booklet

Enhanced recovery is an approach to your preparation and recovery after surgery. It aims to help you recover from your surgery as well and as quickly as it is possible. Evidence has shown that it can also help to reduce complications and side effects following surgery.

It’s important that you have an active role in your own care. You and your surgical team will work together to make sure that you benefit from this approach. Your surgical team will:

• talk to you about the benefits and risks of surgery, and any alternatives that may be available to you. They will also talk to you about your options if you choose not to have any treatment. This is to help you decide if surgery is right for you.
• assess and help you to improve your health and fitness for surgery. You may also wish to see your GP if you need support to improve any of your long-term conditions. You will have your final health assessment in a Preoperative Assessment Clinic a few days to a few weeks before your surgery.
• help you to drink, eat and move out of bed as soon as possible after surgery.

Nutrition

Eating well before surgery can:

• strengthen your immune system.
• help you to heal after your operation.
• help to reduce your risk of surgery complications.

Protein is particularly important, both before surgery and for recovery. Try to include high-protein food with each meal. The additional protein you have before surgery will be stored in your muscles. Your body will use these protein stores after surgery when it is working hard to heal, and your appetite is lower. 

If your surgical team have advised you that you should gain or lose weight to prepare your body for surgery, or if you feel you need to do that, it is important that you do this with the correct advice and support.

Improving your diet before surgery is about improving the balance of the food groups shown in the diagram below. It is not about reaching your goal weight or avoiding all the foods you like.

Being active

Being active every day makes your body stronger. Increasing the exercise you do now will help your recovery after surgery, even if you have never exercised before. Aim to exercise for around 20-30 minutes each day. This could be walking, swimming or something else you enjoy doing.

The activity you choose each day should:

• increase your heart rate.
• make you breathe faster than normal.
• make you feel warmer.

Smoking and vaping

Smoking slows down the healing process after any surgery and increases the risk of wound and chest infection. This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen being delivered to the tissues, which is vital for the healing process. E-cigarettes (vapes) have been shown to help stop smoking. But if you already vape, we recommend that you stop or cut down as much as possible before surgery. We strongly advise not to smoke or vape at least one to two days before your surgery.

Alcohol

Any reduction in the amount you drink every week will be beneficial. You should avoid drinking alcohol for at least 48 hours before surgery, but it is better if you can stop for longer.

The national guidelines recommend that you should drink maximum of 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across three days or more.

14 units = 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer

Constipation

Make sure you are not constipated before you come in for your operation as it will cause discomfort during your recovery. Speak to your local pharmacist if you feel constipated the week before surgery. They can advise you on laxatives to help your bowels to open.

Contraception

It is important that you are not pregnant when you have your surgery. This is because the operation or the anaesthetic may be harmful in early pregnancy.

Some people can continue their current contraception as they prepare for their surgery.

• Progesterone only pill (POP) can be continued as prescribed.
• Combined oestrogen/progesterone must be stopped 4 weeks before surgery.
• HRT must be stopped 4 weeks before surger.

Your healthcare team will provide further advice on this. If you are not using regular contraception, we recommend that you:

• use a barrier contraceptive method (such as condoms), or
• don’t have sex from the first day of your last period until your admission to hospital.

If there is a chance you could be pregnant, we will need to cancel your operation.

Vitamins and herbal supplements

• Please stop any supplements which have not been prescribed by your doctor/GP as these may interfere with anaesthetics and other medicines used during your hospital admissions.
• Please discuss this at your preoperative assessment appointment.

Fingernails

Please remove nail varnish, including gels/shellac, and false nails. Nail varnish interferes with the device we use on your fingers to monitor the oxygen levels in your blood.

Dental health

If you have any loose teeth or crowns, we recommend a dental check-up before your surgery. Good mouth care also helps to keep your lungs clear from bacteria and reduces the risk of a chest infection after surgery. You should clean your teeth or dentures thoroughly at least twice a day and use a mouthwash daily before surgery and during your recovery.

Preparing your mind for surgery

There are resources available from the Royal College of Anaesthetists to help you relax and manage anxiety before and after surgery.

For 10–15-minute relaxation audio recordings:

• Search “RCoA preparing your mind for surgery”

Preparing your home and planning for discharge (going home)

• Buy some pain medicines, such as paracetamol, to use when you return home. We will not supply non-prescription medicines on discharge.
• Make sure you have a good supply of any prescription medicines you are currently taking. We will provide a short supply of new medication only before you go home.
• Plan a selection of easy-to-prepare foods for when you get home. It’s a good idea to freeze some bread and milk.
• Before you are admitted plan some support for after your discharge home for shopping and helping you at home with household tasks including cleaning l
• You may not be able to do many of the things that you usually do while you are recovering. Talk to your Neurosurgery team about how long your recovery might take. This will help you to make the arrangements you need at home or work.
• Plan for how you will travel home after your operation and make your arrangements flexible. This is because you may be well enough to go home earlier, or you may need to stay in hospital longer.

Hospital transport is only available to patients who meet the criteria of the Department of Health and Social Care.

For more information, visit our Travel services page

Discharge Lounge

On the day of discharge, you will be asked to move to the Discharge lounge (2nd Floor Chandler wing) to wait for transport or family. This area is equipped with armchairs, TV and can provide light refreshments. It is also attended by a member of nursing staff .

If you would like to provide supplementary information to share with us, the following links may be useful:

• UCLH Learning Disability and autism page
• UCLH hospital passport template
• Autism health passport (My health passport)

What to bring to hospital

• Your admission letter
• Your next of kin and GP contact details
• Any medicines you are taking in their original boxes, or a blister pack prepared by a pharmacist.
• Toiletries (we will provide fresh towels daily)
• Slippers or other comfortable non-slip footwear
• Comfortable day clothes and night clothes (e.g., t-shirt and shorts/jogging bottoms)
• Reading glasses and mobility aids
• Books, magazines, puzzles, tablets and headphones
• A notepad and pen for writing down any questions you may have for doctors on ward rounds.
• A small amount of cash for refreshments, snacks or newspapers
• Dry snacks (protein bars, biscuits)
• Cordial (if you don’t like to drink water)
• Sugar-free chewing gum

Please don’t bring any valuable items or large amounts of cash into the hospital. We do not accept responsibility for your property unless it has been signed over to staff for safekeeping.

Pre Assessment Clinic 

Most of our patients are assessed either face to face or by telephone in the Pre assessment Clinic.

You will be seen by a pre-operative assessment nurse and under certain circumstances you will see an anaesthetist too. You will be asked questions about your general health, medication and if necessary, you will have further tests such as blood tests, an ECG, and MRSA swabs.

You will also be given information about your admission, your surgery and how long you can expect to be admitted for. We will provide a washing liquid and nose cream if needed, to be started in the days prior to your procedure. You will be given specific instructions, by the nurse on the date to start and how to use.

Fasting instructions (stopping eating and drinking)

If you do not follow the fasting instructions, your operation may need to be cancelled.

Before you leave home

Pack your regular medicines.

• Bring your medicines in the original boxes so that we can ensure you receive the correct dose of medicine at the correct time.
• If your medicines aren’t in their original boxes, the hospital team will not be able to administer them. This can cause delay on when you take your medicines.

Please inform your team if you are taking any weight loss medications as there can be important side effects around the time of surgery.

• Have a shower and hair wash the evening before or in the morning before setting off for the hospital and put on clean clothes.
• Do not put on any moisturiser, body lotion or hand cream. Avoid make up or bring face wipes to remove your make up before your operation.

Arriving at NHNN Queen Square

The address is: Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG

Please report to the staff at the reception in the main entrance – you will be directed to the neurosurgical short stay unit or one of the inpatient wards.

Neurosurgical Short Stay Unit

Location: 1st Floor Albany wing

You may be directed to this short stay unit on arrival. You will be prepared and go to theatre from here and then move to a ward afterwards. All your personal belongings will be looked after and transferred to you.

Please note that only one person may come to the Neuroscience Short Stay Unit with you.

When you arrive:

• A nurses will check your observations (blood pressure, temperature and pulse).
• You will be given an identity bracelet to wear.
• If you have not had a hysterectomy or are under 60 years of age, they will ask you for a urine sample to confirm that you are not pregnant.
• You might also need some final blood tests.
• You will see the surgeon who will confirm your consent (permission) for the operation.
• You will also see an anaesthetic doctor. They will explain how they will keep you safe and comfortable during the procedure and talk to you about the pain control options available to you after your operation. You will have an opportunity to ask your doctors any questions you still have.
• We will ask you to put on a hospital gown and special support stockings to wear in order to reduce your risk of blood clots.
• Your belongings will be put into a locked cupboard and transferred them to a locked cabinet on the allocated ward.
• Waiting times may vary and it can be a few hours before you have your operation. Please bring something to read or do while you wait to help you pass the time. You are welcome to use your mobile phone but please keep it on silent so that you do not disturb other patients.

Sometimes planned operations can be cancelled on the day of surgery. This may be because your doctors feel you are not well enough for the surgery or because of a hospital issue. We know this is distressing and we do everything we can to avoid it. If this happens, we will aim to give you a new surgery date within 28 days.

Operating theatres

When your surgical team are ready, a nurse will take you to the anaesthetic room or operating theatre. The team will confirm your name and the planned procedure. They will ask you to lie down on a trolley or bed and will use a needle to insert cannula into a vein in your hand or arm. The cannula will be used to give you anaesthetic medicines. It will also be used to give you antibiotics, pain relief, fluids and anti-sickness medication during and after your surgery. The anaesthetist will stay with you the whole time, monitoring you closely.

Recovery area

You will wake up gradually after your operation in the Recovery unit. We will give you oxygen and intravenous fluids. We will also make every effort to control your pain. If you are in pain or feel nauseous (sick), please tell the team looking after you so they can give you medicine to ease this.

When you are fully awake and comfortable, a nurse will take you to the ward. You may be in recovery longer if a ward bed is not ready. Some patients stay in recovery overnight before moving to the ward early in the morning. If you want to contact a friend or relative, please speak to one of the nurses.

Day Surgery Unit

If you are not staying in hospital overnight, we will take you to the Neurosurgical Short Stay Unit. Before you go home you will:

• have something to eat and drink.
• need to walk around.
• need to be able to pass urine.

You will need to arrange for someone to travel home with you. Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may also need someone to stay with you overnight. Your healthcare team will advise you before your operation. We will give you a Discharge summary before you leave.

High Dependency Unit (HDU)

HDU is a specialist intensive care ward for patients who need increased monitoring while recovering after major surgery. There will be various pieces of equipment used at each bed.

Your surgeon or anaesthetist will tell you before your surgery if you need to go to HDU. Most patients who go to HDU will stay there for 12-24 hours. After that they are transferred to a surgical ward to continue their recovery.

Ward

We will take you to a ward if you are staying in hospital overnight after your surgery. The wards are made up of open bays and side rooms. A bed will be allocated to you by the team on the ward according to your clinical circumstances.

General routine on the Neurosurgical wards

A nurse looking after you on their shift will introduce themselves and write their name on the board behind your bed. They will need to measure your blood pressure, pulse and temperature regularly. This means they may need to wake you up at night.

Your consultant neurosurgeon will oversee your treatment. You will see at least one doctor from the surgical team each morning.

Wi-Fi and mobile phones

Wi-Fi is available to all patients and visitors free of charge. To connect, select Guest@UCLH from the available network list. Then enter your name and email address on the registration page.

Small portable devices such as iPads, mobile phones and games consoles can be used in hospital. Please respect others when using electronic devices, even with headphones, as noise can disturb other patients. Please always keep valuables like these with you. UCLH cannot be responsible for their safekeeping.

Food from outside the hospital

Your visitors can bring food for you from outside the hospital. Please note that we are unable to reheat food due to our Infection control policy.

Visitors

Visiting time is between 2pm and 7pm.

You can have two visitors at one time. If you need to visit outside the visiting times stated, please speak to the ward manager.

It is very important that visitors do not come to the hospital if they:

• feel unwell.
• have a temperature or cough.
• have had vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 48 hours.

Please use the hand gel at the entrance to the ward on arrival.

Infection control

• There is a handwashing basin in each bay and alcohol hand gel at the end of every bed. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating.
• If you have a drip, drain or catheter that becomes sore, please tell your nurse.

If you notice an area that has not been cleaned properly, such as your bed space, a bathroom or toilet, please tell us immediately.

Medicines

We will keep your regular medicines in a locked cabinet beside your bed and give them back to you when you leave hospital.

If you have any questions or concerns about your medicines, please ask to speak to the ward pharmacist. f you are in pain or feel nauseous (sick) at any time, please tell your nurse. They can give you medication to relieve it.

Urinary catheter

You may have a catheter placed in your bladder during surgery to drain urine. Depending on the type of surgery you have, the catheter will be removed:

• At the end of your surgery or in recovery before you move to the ward
• Early the next morning around 6am
• Or once you’re recovering and able to walk to the toilet.

Your surgeon or anaesthetist will discuss this with you before your operation.

If your urinary catheter is to be removed the next morning, we will aim to do this around 6am. We aim to do this early as it can take a few hours to check if your bladder is emptying normally after surgery.

Follow the tips below after the catheter has been removed:

• Drink 1 – 2 glasses of water every hour so your bladder fills slowly.
• Take regular short walks.
• If you didn’t pass much urine, stand up and walk around, then try again. This is called ‘double voiding’.

Drinking, Eating and Moving (DrEaMing)

We encourage and will assist you to DrEaM (Drink, Eat and Mobilise) within 24 hours of your surgery. DrEaMing research suggests that you will recover more quickly following surgery and reduce your risk for any major complications of the heart, lungs and gut such as blood clots, chest infection and constipation. This will help you to be discharged in a timely manner.

In specific cases, your neurosurgeon may ask you not to mobilise or eat for a little longer. In these cases, you will not be eligible for DrEaMing.

Drinking

You should try to drink about 1.5–2 litres (3.5 pints) of fluids per day. This is about 10–12 cups of water, tea or juice.

Nourishing drinks

The drinks listed below are higher in energy and protein. They are important to help your recovery when your appetite is low after surgery. Have one of these drinks between meals:

• whole milk (available on the tea trolley)
• hot chocolate with milk (available on the tea trolley)
• high-calorie jelly (order from the hospital menu)
• Aymes® soup (high-protein powdered soup available on the afternoon tea trolley).

Eating

Food provides the energy and protein you need to support healing after surgery. Start with small portions and regular snacks even if you do not feel hungry.

• Look for options marked with☺“Higher Energy” on the menu card. These foods provide the energy and protein you need to heal.
• A high-protein diet is recommended for two to three weeks after surgery to support healing.
• Order a yoghurt, mousse or cheese and crackers with your meal. You can keep them in the patient fridge for a snack later.

Nausea

It is very common to feel nauseous (sick) after surgery. Anti-sickness medication can reduce the nausea and help you get the nutrition you need to recover. Please tell us if you are feeling nauseous so that we can help.

Useful tips

• Chewing sugar-free gum for 10–15 minutes three times a day may stimulate bowel movements and reduce nausea.
• Sitting in the chair while eating and going for a walk or staying upright for 30 minutes after eating improves digestion.
• Sipping ginger or peppermint tea may also help with nausea.

Moving around

• We will help you get out of bed to sit in a chair or go for a short walk as soon as you are comfortable after surgery. This is usually on the evening after surgery or the next morning.
• Sit in the chair for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This helps to spread your activity through the day. You can rest in bed in between the meals.
• Build up the distance and frequency of walks.

Some pain after surgery is normal and good pain relief will help you to recover faster. It is important that your pain does not stop you from taking a deep breath or moving around.

Always tell your nurse if you have pain that stops you from moving or deep breathing.

Regular painkillers:

Regular painkillers help to prevent or reduce pain. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are the most commonly used pain relief at UCLH. We also have a specialised pain team who can visit you on the ward and help with finding the most effective painkillers.

Rescue painkillers:

Rescue painkillers (also called ‘medication as required’) provide additional pain relief if you regular painkillers are not enough.

You can ask your nurse for these at any time, day or night.

Trapped wind

Following your operation your bowel may temporarily slow down. This can cause air or ‘wind’ to be trapped in your bowel, which may feel painful or uncomfortable until it is passed. Getting out of bed and walking around will help your bowels to return to normal. Once your bowels start to move, the trapped wind pain will ease.

Exercises after surgery

Deep breathing exercises

• Deep breathing exercises reduce the risk of chest infection, relieve nausea, and help you to relax after surgery.
• Do the deep breathing exercises in the diagram below sitting up or standing.

Deep breathing for relaxation

Using this deep breathing exercise for relaxation is a good way to relax and prepare for sleep. Close your eyes and concentrate on breathing in a slow, regular rhythm. Focus on the sound of your breath and how it feels in your body.

Leg exercises

• Leg exercises improve blood circulation and prevent blood clots in your legs. You can complete them in bed or sitting in a chair. 
• Briskly move your feet and ankles up and down.
• Repeat for 30 seconds, once every hour.

*img*

Start your deep breathing and leg exercises when you wake up in the recovery area.

Turning over in bed

• Try to keep your knees close together, bend both knees and keep your feet on the bed.
• Moving your shoulders and knees at the same time, roll onto your side.
• You may find it more comfortable to place a pillow under your tummy or in between your knees.

Getting out of bed

• Roll over onto your side.
• Swing your legs off the bed. Use your arms to push down into the bed and push yourself up.
• Sit on the edge of the bed for a moment. Take your time to get used to sitting upright, especially if it is the first time you have done so after your surgery.
• Using your hands to push up from the bed, slowly stand up.

Getting back into bed

• Stand with the back of your knees against the bed. Bend
• forward and reach back towards the bed as you sit.
• Once you are sitting on the edge of the bed, lower your head and shoulders on to the pillow sideways.
• Lift your legs onto the bed at the same time, trying to keep your knees close together. Once you are lying on your side, you can roll onto your back keeping the knees bent.

Building up your activity

• Start with short gentle walks.
• Increase the frequency or distance each day as you feel able, until you are back to your normal level of activity.
• Your team will provide more specific advice to you.

Wound care

It is normal for your wounds to be slightly red and sensitive during the first one or two weeks after surgery. If you have a wound dressing, we will let you know how to look after it. You will be given specific advice on how to care for your wound.

• Signs of wound infection include redness and increased pain around the wound, leakage of cloudy fluid from the wound and raised temperature.
• Contact us without delay on the numbers listed on pages 35 – 37 if you notice any of these symptoms.
• CSF leak – if you notice a clear watery liquid leaking form your wound, please contact us immediately on the telephone numbers listed on pages 35-37 as this may require immediate attention.
• Note – some types of head surgery can cause unusual symptoms such as scalp numbness, creaking noises and difficulty chewing. Please do not be alarmed and if you are concerned, please do discuss with your GP.

Smoking prevents your wound from receiving enough oxygen to heal and increases the risk of infection. We recommend stopping smoking before your surgery.

Pain

• Some pain after surgery is normal. It is important that your pain does not stop you from taking deep breaths or walking around. A combination of pain medicines provides the best pain relief after surgery. This means taking ‘regular painkillers’ throughout the day and ‘rescue painkillers’ when you need them.
• Your pain relief instructions will be included in the discharge letter. As we don’t supply paracetamol or ibuprofen for patients to take home, they may not be part of your medication list. But if you have been taking these in hospital, continue to take them at home. Make sure you have a supply at home and follow the instructions on the package.
• We recommend that you take ‘regular pain relief’ (paracetamol or ibuprofen) until you no longer need to use ‘rescue painkillers’. Then you can start reducing your ‘regular painkillers’. After some neurosurgical procedures it is advised not to take Ibuprofen. Please check with your clinical team about whether they are happy for you to use this drug before leaving hospital.
• Dihydrocodeine is the most commonly used ‘rescue pain relief’ at NHNN. It is a weak opioid (morphine-based drug). One of the side effects of taking dihydrocodeine is constipation. If you are taking dihydrocodeine, we will also give you a gentle laxative to keep your poo soft.

It can be helpful to write down the times you take your different pain relief medicines. This can help you to spread your painkillers evenly through the day to give you the best pain relief.

Medications

• You may be prescribed some new medications at discharge, it’s important to follow the recommendations for these and understand if the doses should stay the same or will change over time.
• We will explain all new medications before you are discharged, please do ask questions. These will also be printed within the Discharge summary which you will be given before you go home.

Bowels (poo)

• Surgery, anaesthetic and painkillers slow your bowel. We will give you laxatives to take at home to help you avoid uncomfortable constipation symptoms.
• Going for walks, drinking plenty of fluids and taking laxatives will also help the bowels to work well. Your poo should be soft and easy to pass.
• When sitting on the toilet, try placing a small footstool under your feet so that your knees are higher than your hips. Then, lean forward and rest your arms on top of your legs to avoid straining. This position can help you to open your bowels.

Urine (pee)

• If you are well hydrated, your pee should be pale yellow. If it is darker, you may be dehydrated.
• You should try to drink about 1.5–2 litres (3.5 pints) of fluids per day. This is about 10–12 cups of water, tea or juice.

Emotional wellbeing and fatigue

• Surgery is stressful and recovery can be exhausting. It is normal to feel tearful and emotional at first.
• This may be because of the anaesthetic you were given or your feelings about the operation in general. It can also be made worse when you are tired. How long these feelings will last will vary from person to person.
• If you’d like to speak to someone about how you’re feeling, or need support with managing your fatigue, speak to the team on the ward or after discharge please contact your GP.

Time off work

• You are likely to need between one and six weeks off work after surgery. How much time off you need will also depend on the job you do. Please talk to your surgical team about this.
• We can give you a sick certificate for time off work before you leave hospital. Let your nurse know if you need it.
• You don’t need permission from your GP to return to work. But if you don’t feel ready to go back to work when your sick certificate period ends, contact your GP to arrange a new certificate. You may find it helpful to plan a phased return to work. For example, you could start with shorter hours and build them up gradually.

Driving

• After some types of cranial surgery, there will be specific advice about driving. Ask your doctor whether you should contact the DVLA and your insurance company for advice before returning to driving.
• After spinal surgery please follow the advice on driving provided by your surgical team and your insurance company.

We will tell you if you need a follow-up appointment at UCLH before you leave hospital. You will also receive a written discharge summary with this information.

It is not always possible to give you an appointment date before you leave hospital. If this is the case, we will send this to you by post or by MyCare UCLH patient portal.

See the next section for more information about the patient portal.

MyCare UCLH is our digital patient portal. It gives you secure access to information about your care via an app or online.

There are different ways for you to register for MyCare UCLH. Your doctor or nurse can activate your account during your appointment or send you an email with sign-up instructions.

With MyCare, you can:

• View your health summary at UCLH
• View appointments
• Access information to help you prepare for an appointment.
• Request changes to your appointments.
• View test results
• Access trusted health information resources
• Communicate electronically and securely with your care team.

To find out more or to download the portal, visit the MyCare UCLH web page.

We are a teaching hospital, which means that there may be student doctors or nurses working on the ward or sitting in during your consultation. We will always ask for your permission first. If you prefer not to be seen by students, please tell us. It will not affect your care in any way.

We may also ask you to take part in a research study. We will give you detailed information about what is involved. If you decide to take part, you will need to sign a consent form. If you don’t want to take part, or if you change your mind later in the process, it will not affect your care in any way.

For patient information, maps and travel, changing appointments, infection control, and more, visit UCLH Patients and visitors page.

For information on how to get to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, visit our University College Hospital page.

Hospital transport

Hospital transport is only available for people who need the skills or assistance of a trained ambulance crew to travel to hospital. It cannot be provided for social or financial reasons alone.

For more information, visit our Transport services page.

Nutrition advice

Advice on how to increase protein in your diet before surgery.

If you are underweight or have lost weight unintentionally, the advice on the NHS website may be helpful: Healthy ways to gain weight

If you are overweight, the advice on the NHS Better Health website may be helpful: Lose weight

Exercise advice and ideas

• Exercises to prepare for surgery and for after full recovery
• Gentle exercises for after surgery
• Help to stop smoking and vaping
• Help to drink less alcohol
• Mental health and wellbeing support

Admissions
Telephone: 020 3448 3833 / 4832 / 3276

Pre-operative Assessment Clinic
Telephone: 020 3448 3348 (appointments and blood results only)

Neuroscience Short Stay Unit
Telephone: 020 344 82327 / 84823

Switchboard
Telephone: 020 3456 7890

Hospital transport
Telephone: 020 3456 7010

Blue Badge parking
Telephone: 020 3447 9922
Email: uclh.disabledparking@nhs.net

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS is an easy to access, confidential service designed to assist patients, relatives and carers. If you have a problem that you have been unable to resolve, the PALS team can help you. PALS is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Telephone: 020 3447 3042
Email: uclh.PALS@nhs.net

If you require advice following discharge it may be useful to contact one of the Clinical Nurse specialists associated with your surgical team.

The emails are as follows.

UCLH.braintumourunit@nhs.net

UCLH.NHNN-PituitaryCNS@nhs.net

UCLH.referrals.hydrocephalus@nhs.net

UCLH.enquiry.dbsnurses@nhs.uk

UCLH.neurovascularnurse@nhs.net

UCLH.NeurosurgeryMedicalSecretaries@nhs.net (Spinal patients)

Please provide details, name, hospital number and brief description of question/query, contact email/number.

Go to your nearest emergency department (A&E) if you experience any of these issues:

• sudden shortness of breath and/or chest pain
• a temperature of 38°C or above
• severe pain or increasing pain, even after taking your painkillers.
• nausea and vomiting that is stopping you from eating and drinking.
• not being able to pass urine, or passing very small amounts and feeling your bladder is not empty.
• pain, swelling or redness in your calf.

These can be signs of infection, or a blood clot and you will need treatment if they are confirmed.