Gynaecological day surgery and quality of care

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of Australian public and private patients undergoing gynaecological day surgery in a public hospital. A telephone survey was conducted with 315 women within two days of hospital discharge. The findings indicate that patients generally favour the "in and out" experience of day surgery, with some reservations. Prior to hospital admission, private patients were less likely to have access to multiple sources of information as well as information that they found easy to understand. Alternative means of supporting women recovering from day surgery may be needed for those whose family members and/or friends cannot provide sufficient support following discharge. This study contributes to discussion on setting objective standards to evaluate the health system in the field of day surgery.