For an outpatient consultation
Keep your scans, written reports, previous prescriptions and symptom timeline together. Make a current medicine list, including doses, supplements and allergies.
Use these prompts to prepare your questions:
Tick boxes are for your use on this page; they are not sent to the clinic or saved.
If an operation has been planned
Do
- Attend your pre-operative assessment and disclose medical conditions, medicines, vitamins and herbal products.
- Get the hospital’s exact eating, drinking and medicine instructions. Ask if anything is unclear.
- Arrange transport home and discuss support you may need after discharge.
- Tell the team if you develop a cough, fever or other illness before admission.
Don’t
- Do not stop or alter medicines using a general internet checklist. Ask for your own plan, including for blood thinners and diabetes medicines.
- Do not assume a universal “nothing after midnight” rule: use the instructions your hospital gives you.
- Do not plan to drive yourself home after anaesthesia.
Source: NHS · Preparing for surgery .
Before going home
Ask for written instructions on medicines, wound care, activity, follow-up and who to contact if you are worried. Check when any stitches or clips need attention and what help you may need at home.
Read the brain-surgery recovery guide →
Source: NHS · After surgery .
Sources & editorial note
Sources checked 21 October 2026. These independent sources support the general information above; they do not endorse this practice.
Prepared from published patient guidance. Clinical review by Dr. Agarwal is pending. This is education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan; follow your treating team’s advice. Emergency contact information has been localised for India.