Pre-admission, Admission and Discharge Information
Pre admission
Endoscopy Nursing Staff will contact you in the days leading up to your procedure, advising you of your fasting and admission times. Please ensure you have completed the bowel screening checklist, as this will ensure correct bowel preparation for your procedure.
For admission – please use Entrance 1
On the day of your procedure, please admit to Entrance One (main hospital entrance) on the corner of Scott and Mackenzie Street. There is a drop off zone outside the front door.
It is important to remember - Your admission time IS NOT your procedure time.
Your arrival time allows time for your admission and appropriate preparation prior to your procedure. Please also be aware that there can be waiting times due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies.
After your admission process, you will be taken to the Endoscopy Unit where you will be admitted by nursing staff for your procedure. You are more than welcome to bring reading material, or your smart device as we have complementary Wi-Fi.
We strongly advise you to NOT:
• Bring valuables or large sums of money
• Wear any jewellery
• Wear acrylic nails
For endoscopy pick up – please use Entrance 4
The nurse will contact your escort/carer approximately 30 minutes prior to your discharge time. Your escort/carer is required to come into the Endoscopy Unit to collect you. If your escort is more than 30 minutes away, please notify the nurse to contact them earlier. Please confirm your escort/carer’s name and contact details with nursing staff at the time of your admission.
Your escort/carer may park in the designated Endoscopy Pick up / Disabled parking area without requiring to pay for a parking ticket. This park is well signed and is accessible at Entrance 4 via Curzon Street.
The Day Before Your Procedure
With your bowel preparation, you would have received instructions on how to consume it correctly. Please follow these guidelines, and contact the Endoscopy Unit if you have any concerns or questions regarding administration.
The bowel preparation is designed to cause watery diarrhoea. This is completely normal!
Your bowel motions will become clearer and clearer, eventually look like weak tea or a urine colour. Please check the toilet bowl after each motion to confirm that this is happening.
It is important that you notify the nursing staff on admission if your bowel motions have become darker, or have any solid faecal matter. Further preparation, or an enema, may need to be administered prior to your procedure.
Helpful Hints for your Colonoscopy
Bowel preparation
• Prepare your bowel preparation using a measuring container to ensure accuracy
• If the taste of the preparation drink is unpleasant or makes you feel nauseated you
may try the following:
- stop drinking for 30 minutes
- drink the bowel preparation through a straw, or a drink bottle
- sip fluids steadily instead of drinking large amounts quickly
- suck on barley sugar or butterscotch lollies between drinks
- brush your teeth or suck on an ice cube prior to continue the preparation
• To help the taste of the bowel preparation, try adding some flavoured cordial (avoiding
blue, red, purple and green coloured cordial)
• If you feel bloated or experience wind pain try:
- walking around
- sucking on peppermint lollies and/or drink peppermint tea or peppermint water
• Drink extra clear fluids to assist with cleaning out your colon
• Stay warm
• You may feel more comfortable wearing a continence pad once you start the bowel
preparation
Failure to have a bowel motion
People vary in the time it takes to have a bowel motion after commencing the bowel preparation.
• If you have not had a bowel motion, but have no pain or vomiting, continue drinking
your preparation
• If your bowel motions are not clear after the preparation, contact the hospital as soon
as possible to receive further instructions.
• You may be required to have an enema when you arrive if your bowel motion is not
clear.
Severe pain and vomiting
• If you have severe pain or vomiting, stop the bowel preparation immediately, seek
medical advice from your GP, present to your nearest Hospital/Emergency Centre
or dial 000 for an ambulance.
Keeping hydrated
• It is very important to drink extra clear fluids as you are able to tolerate. This will help
to keep you hydrated and prevent any headaches, dizziness, nausea and ensure your
bowel return is clear for your procedure.
Reducing irritation
• Apply a barrier cream around anal area to reduce irritation e.g. Petroleum Jelly
(Vaseline), lanolin, paw-paw ointment, Barrier Cream (sudocream), or Antiseptic Cream
(bepanthen)
• Use wet wipes instead of toilet paper and gently wipe to avoid irritation
• If you have haemorrhoids use haemorrhoid cream to reduce discomfort
Further Information
Colonoscopy Clinical Care standard consumer fact sheet can be accessed from the following site, linked here.
