How to Care for Someone After Surgery

Before they're discharged

You'll usually be asked to collect them and take them home — they can't go alone by taxi or public transport after an anaesthetic. Bring the car close, take the discharge letter and any medicines the hospital sends home, and ask the nurse two things: when the next dose of pain relief is due, and what number to call if something isn't right. Write the number down where you'll find it.

The 24-hour rules after an anaesthetic

For at least 24 hours after a general anaesthetic or sedation, the person you're caring for should not:

• drive or operate machinery or power tools;
• sign important or legal documents, or make big decisions;
• drink alcohol;
• be left alone in the house.

The anaesthetic slows reactions and clouds thinking even when they insist they feel fine. These rules are about that hidden effect — not about how well they seem.

Staying on top of pain and medicines

Pain is easiest to control when you stay ahead of it rather than waiting for it to come back hard. Set alarms for the next dose so it isn't missed — this matters most overnight and when they're dozing. Follow the doses on the discharge letter, don't double up, and keep a simple note of what was taken and when.

Food, fluids and nausea

Start light: water first, then plain foods like toast, crackers, soup, or fruit, building back up as appetite returns. Keep plenty of water going through the day. Feeling sick is common after an anaesthetic, so don't push food. If they keep vomiting and can't hold fluids down, call the team.

Getting up, the toilet, and gentle movement

The first few times they stand, watch for dizziness — have them sit on the edge of the bed for a moment first, and stay with them to the toilet and back. At the same time, short, gentle walks around the house are good: moving a little reduces the risk of blood clots. The balance is simple — rest, but don't stay completely still all day.

Checking the wound

Glance at the dressing or wound when you help them change position. A little oozing early on can be normal, but you're watching for the warning signs below. Don't pick at dressings or get them wet unless the discharge letter says it's fine. If you're worried a wound is becoming infected, our wound infection checker can help you decide whether to call.

Setting up the home

A few minutes of setup makes the next day much easier:

• easy food and snacks they don't have to cook;
• a glass or bottle of water by the bed or chair;
• phone and charger within arm's reach;
• clear paths to the toilet — move rugs, bags, and clutter that could trip them;
• medicines, tissues, and anything they'll reach for kept close so they don't have to stretch or get up.

A possible clot is the one that scares people most. If they get calf pain or swelling, or sudden breathlessness or chest pain, don't wait — treat it as an emergency. For everything else, the discharge letter's contact number is your first call.

Make a sheet you can stick on the fridge

It's hard to hold all of this in your head while you're also worrying about someone. You can generate a printable, plain-English sheet — medicine times, what to watch for, and who to call — with our caregiver handout generator, and keep it somewhere you'll both see it.