Planned surgeries are booked in advance and prioritised based on clinical urgency. You need a referral to have a planned surgery or procedure at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Previously known as elective surgery, planned surgery is a surgery or procedure that can be booked in advance.
Planned surgery includes both day procedures and those that require an overnight or multi-day stay.
How to be seen for surgery at the RMH
To be seen at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), you will need a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or healthcare provider to our Specialist Clinics (Outpatients).
What happens after referral?
Once we receive your referral, it will be processed. For some conditions, before you see a doctor or surgeon, an allied health clinician (such as a physiotherapist) may assess you first and provide non-surgical treatment. This can sometimes prevent the need for surgery.
If you proceed to see a doctor or surgeon, they will assess your condition and assign you a category (from one to three) based on how urgently you need the procedure.
Planned surgery urgency categories
The RMH and other Victorian health services use the national categorisation guidelines when assigning a patient with a clinical urgency category.
Each category has a recommended time for treatment:
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Category 1: Patients are considered urgent. Hospitals will try to make sure you receive surgery within 30 days
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Category 2: Patients are considered semi-urgent. Hospitals will try to make sure you have surgery within 90 days
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Category 3: Patients usually have their surgery booked within a year
We will then add you to our surgical preparation list and send you:
- your urgency category
- information about your procedure
- a health assessment questionnaire
Health assessment questionnaire
You may receive your health assessment questionnaire by post or through Health Hub, our online patient portal.
Complete and return the Health assessment questionnaire to us at your earliest convenience to avoid delays to your surgery. Please reach out to your treating team if you have any questions about the health assessment questionnaire.
While you are on the preparation list
The length of time that you may wait for surgery will depend on the service availability and how urgently you need the procedure.
We will make every attempt to treat you within the time frame recommended by your doctor or surgeon.
Get ready for surgery with Virtual Surgery School
To help you prepare for surgery and if your surgery is appropriate, your treating team may assign you Virtual Surgery School to help you get ready for your procedure.
Optimise your health before surgery
Virtual Surgery School (VSS) is an educational program designed to help patients prepare for surgery and improve their recovery outcomes.
VSS is made up of a series of videos and resources to teach patients ways they can improve their health before surgery, reduce complications, enhance recovery, and potentially shorten their hospital stay.
Monitoring your health while you wait
We encourage you stay in regular contact with your general practitioner (GP) or healthcare provider while waiting for your planned surgery or procedure.
If your condition changes, speak to your GP or contact us on (03) 9352 9400. In an emergency, attend an Emergency Department or call Triple Zero (000).
How we will stay in contact
While on the list, we will routinely contact you to:
- check that you want to remain on the preparation list
- review your health status
- confirm your availability for surgery
Our most common methods of contact are SMS (text message), letters and phone calls. Please note that the telephone number may display on your phone as an External Number, No Caller ID or Caller ID Blocked.
Some specialties may also use the Health Hub patient portal.
Health Hub allows you to see your appointments, some test results and information about your recent specialist clinic visits all in one place.
We regularly audit the preparation list to confirm patient details and availability for surgery, and to check that those waiting wish to remain on the surgical preparation list.
If you have provided us with a mobile phone number, you may receive an SMS (text message) with a link to a website to answer some questions.
If you have not provided us with a mobile phone number, we will send you a letter or call a family member if you have provided us with that information.
What's next?
Find out what happens when it is time for your planned surgery.
See upcoming appointments, medications, information about your recent hospital visits, some test results, allergies and details of your existing problems and diagnoses. You may also be able to view some doctors’ notes, change or cancel appointments.