Patient satisfaction and postoperative demands on hospital and community services after day surgery

This study presents the outcome of a survey of patients satisfaction following day surgery and an assessment of the level of contact between patients and community services within the first 48 h after discharge from a day-surgery unit. A total of 953 patients were provided with a self-completion questionnaire after day surgery; replies were received from 557 (58.4 per cent). Areas investigated regarding overall satisfaction were outpatient services, admission procedure, day-surgery services, preoperative and postoperative information, and postoperative pain relief. The incidence of contact with the hospital or community services in the 48 h after operation was also recorded. Overall satisfaction following day surgery was very high. Only 2.5 per cent of respondents reported that they had needed to contact the hospital within 24 h of discharge. Contact with community services in the 48 h after operation was minimal. Only 4.3 per cent consulted their general practitioner and 1.4 per cent a district nurse. For the small number of patients who did contact the hospital or their general practitioner, the most frequent reason was a problem with pain management.