Enhanced Recovery Pathway

Enhanced Recovery is a well-established model of care, ensuring you are in the best possible condition for major surgery. It helps you take control of your recovery before, during and after an operation, and is a proven way to help you get better more quickly. The St. George’s vision for Enhanced Recovery is to provide evidence-based care appropriate for you. Our aim is to improve your quality of care, through improving your clinical outcomes and experience after surgery, and reducing your length of stay in hospital.

How does it work?

We apply Enhanced Recovery principles at each stage of the patient’s pathway of care:

Before your surgery:

When you get to your GP they will perform some baseline checks to see how fit you are for surgery. These checks will include measuring your height and weight, checking your blood pressure and sugar levels, and they may advise you to change particular aspects of your lifestyle. It is important that you follow the advice of your GP as this will speed up your recovery. Even small changes to your lifestyle, like staying active, eating more healthily, stopping drinking alcohol and smoking, can make a big difference. Be responsible and stay optimised for surgery.

During your surgery:

During your surgery the surgical team take care and diligence when performing surgery, and will use techniques that are minimally invasive. They will also provide you with appropriate medication that suits your needs.

During your hospital stay and after your surgery:

After your surgery you will be taken to a ward where you shall rest. The nurses on the ward will look after you, and will aim to keep you up and moving to speed up your recovery, in addition to reducing nausea and vomiting through fluid management and medication. If you have any questions regarding your surgery, please do not hesitate to ask your doctor or a member of the nursing team.

How will Enhanced Recovery benefit you?

Enhanced recovery has improved outcomes after surgery, it can detect any complications you may have early on, and has care interventions to help speed up your recovery.

Frequently asked questions patients ask

Do I have to stop smoking?

It is advisable that you do to enhance recovery after surgery

How much exercise do I have to do?

It doesn’t need to be intense but you must be active. The earlier you start, the better.

Why do I need carbohydrate drinks?

Drinking carbohydrate drinks before a surgical procedure has been proven to help with recovery after surgery.

What if I have health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes? Is Enhanced Recovery for me?

You will be advised as to how to manage these conditions at all stages of the pathway, making you as fit for surgery as possible

Is recovery with ERP better?

Yes, ERP is proven to be a model for high quality and a speedy recovery

Have a look at our animated video on Enhanced Recovery.