Patient and visitor information – Portsmouth Surgical Centre

As you enter the car park, the registration number of your car is photographed. When you leave, please make your way to the payment machines, which are situated at the Main Hospital or to the side of Block C. Please follow the instructions to pay for your parking which will calculate your entry and exit time.

Payment can be made by either cash or card.

If you are exempt from parking (blue badge holders/volunteer drivers), please ask one of our receptionists for an exemption form which you will need to fill out.

The first 15 minutes of parking is free of charge for dropping off and collecting patients. Payment will need to be made if you exceed this time.

We have free Wi-Fi access for patients and visitors.

All areas of our hospital are accessible to wheelchair users.

Our patient information is available in a range of languages and in large print on request.

We have an interpretation service available to support you if English is not your preferred language.

Please let a member of our booking team know prior to your appointment if you have any special requirements.

One of the benefits of being treated at our hospital is the ‘one-stop-service’ of your outpatient appointment. Where possible we will complete any pre-treatment tests there and then, to save you making multiple trips, and our anaesthetists and rehabilitation team will assess you at the same time.

Your outpatient appointment is also an opportunity for you to meet the consultant who will perform your treatment. Feel free to ask any questions you wish – you may even want to write these down ahead of your appointment. They will explain any special preparations you may need to make before your treatment.

On the day of your treatment, wear something light and comfortable, so you’re as relaxed as possible.

If you’ll be staying with us, you may want to bring personal toiletries, nightclothes, comfortable footwear, something to read, and any medication you routinely take.

When you leave the hospital after you’ve had your treatment, you’ll be given full details of your follow-up care. We will inform your GP that you’ve been discharged from the hospital, and day case patients are telephoned the day after their surgery to check that they are recovering well.

It’s crucial to rest and take care of yourself after your treatment.

If you have any worries or concerns, you can call our patient advice line for the first 48 hours after your surgery on 02394 318 045 weekdays (8.00am-5.00pm) and 03332 004 041 evenings and weekends (Emergency On-Call Service provided by Southampton Treatment Centre) to speak to a member of the clinical team. This helpline is designed to ensure that your recovery is as speedy and successful as possible, so please use it as much as you need to.

‘White Coat Syndrome’(also known as ‘White Coat Hypertension’ or the ‘White Coat Effect’) is a condition to describe people experiencing increased stress levels and blood pressure when in a medical clinic or hospital.

The condition is not uncommon, with as many as 1 in 8 people experiencing it when in a medical setting.

Does White Coat Syndrome affect patients at Practice Plus Group?
Yes. It can be upsetting for patients because, as well as being unpleasant to experience, higher blood pressure can result in postponed and cancelled appointments.

What are Practice Plus Group doing to help?
We’re taking the following steps to help patients with the condition:

• Pre-treatment patient tours of our hospitals with the opportunity to meet care teams
• Access to quiet areas for blood pressure checks
• Regular blood pressure readings during appointments – often blood pressure lowers as the patient relaxes.