What does Pittwater Day Surgery do to reduce your medication risks?

 

Pittwater Day Surgery has processes in place to help make sure medications are prescribed, checked and given safely during your admission.

Before your procedure, staff will ask about the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements. We will also ask about any allergies or previous reactions to medicines.

 

During your admission, medications are checked before they are given. Some medicines, including higher-risk medicines, may require additional checks by staff.

 

Medication safety is also reviewed as part of our ongoing quality program, including staff education, review of medication incidents or near misses, and regular checks of medication processes.

 

What can you do to reduce your medication risks?

 

Please help us by:

• Providing an up-to-date list of your regular medicines, including the dose and how often you take them.

• Telling staff about any allergies or previous reactions to medicines.

• Letting staff know if you have taken any blood-thinning medicines, diabetes medicines, pain relief, herbal medicines or supplements.

• Following the medication instructions given to you before and after your procedure.

• Asking staff if you are unsure what a medicine is for, or if you have any concerns.

 

GLP-1 agonist medicines

 

Please tell us if you are currently taking, or have taken in the last 6 weeks, a GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medicine. These medicines may be used for diabetes or weight management and include medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Saxenda and Rybelsus.

 

These medicines can slow how quickly your stomach empties. This is important because you may need different fasting instructions before your procedure, depending on the medicine you take and when you last took it.

 

Do not stop taking these medicines unless you have been advised to do so by your treating doctor, anaesthetist or Pittwater Day Surgery.