Waiting Well Support Service
If you are preparing for hernia, hip replacement, knee replacement, gall bladder or gynaecology surgery, the Waiting Well Support Service is available for you.
This is a new service and will be available to people having other types of surgery in the future.
We work closely with the Pre-Assessment clinic teams in supporting your preparation for surgery.
Waiting for surgery can be a frustrating time, especially if you are living with pain or trying to manage symptoms. We are here to offer support and advice. We can guide you to services within the Health Board and your local community. If you are on a waiting list for surgery, you may receive a telephone call or text message from our team.
Taking an active part in planning and preparing for surgery can help to:
- make you feel more in control
- avoid delays or cancellations of your surgery
- reduce the time you spend in hospital
- allow you to return to normal more quickly
You can prepare for surgery by making sure your other health conditions are well managed and by making positive changes to your lifestyle.
Please fill out this questionnaire, to help us to understand your health needs.
Follow the links on this page for more information that can help you to improve your health and fitness, both before and after surgery.
There is a new 6 week course: Kick Start to Preparing for Surgery, to help improve your health and well-being if you are on a list for any of the surgeries mentioned above. The sessions are based in leisure centres and are run by NHS rehabilitation coaches. If you are interested in attending please contact us on the details below.
How to get further support
To speak to one of our team, please contact us on:
Telephone: 02921 841800 (Monday – Friday 9am-5pm)
E-mail: waitingwell.service.cav@wales.nhs.uk
Keeping active
Keeping active while you are waiting for surgery is important to keep you healthy and strong. It will speed up your recovery after surgery.
Regular movement, even light activity like walking or stretching can reduce stiffness, improve mood, help to manage pain and improve your overall health.
Being active will look different for everyone.
Our Physical activity page has more information on staying physically active.
The Escape Pain courses have more information on staying physically active with joint pain.
The Ageing Well page has more information on keeping active and ageing well .
Healthy eating
Maintaining a healthy weight and eating well can reduce the risk of complications during and after surgery. Being closer to a healthy weight can make surgery safer, help wounds heal better and reduce your recovery time. It can also help you to feel better overall.
Small changes to your eating habits and activity can make a big difference.
Stopping smoking
Stopping or reducing smoking before surgery can help your body heal better and reduces the risk of complications like infections, breathing problems and slow wound healing. Quitting smoking will reduce your risk of heart and lung conditions, stroke and cancer.
Click here for information on stopping smoking Stopping Smoking – Keeping Me Well
There is plenty of free support available to support you please visit the Help Me Quit website for more information or call 0800 085 2219
Reducing your alcohol intake or stopping drinking
Cutting down on the amount of alcohol you are drinking can help you to cope better with the surgery and recover more quickly. Drinking less alcohol can reduce the risk of complications such as infections, and speed up healing time.
Drinking less alcohol will also reduce your risk of a range of illnesses including cancer.
Click here for more information and support on cutting back on alcohol.
Improving sleep
Getting good sleep before surgery is important because it can reduce stress and pain. A good sleep routine can help your body to cope better with the surgery. Good sleep is important to support your long term health and well-being.
Our sleeping well page has information and tips on improving sleep.
The Versus Arthritis website has information on improving sleep with joint pain.
Mental Wellbeing
Getting ready for an operation can be a stressful and anxious time. Physical symptoms that affect your body can also affect your mental wellbeing.
For more information about mental wellbeing, click on the links below.
The Royal College of Anaesthetists have information about managing anxiety before an operation here
Managing Pain
Managing pain while you are waiting for surgery can be challenging.
Keeping active, eating healthily and improving sleep and stress can all help to improve pain.
The ESCAPE pain course is free to access and helps people to better manage joint pain and back pain:
Useful websites to help manage pain:
Resources for people with pain – Live Well with Pain
BPS Patient Publications | British Pain Society
Useful websites to help manage gynaecology pain:
Keeping up to date with health checks
While you are waiting for surgery, it is important to ensure that any other health conditions you have are well managed. Keeping these under control can help to avoid your surgery being cancelled or delayed and reduce the risk of complications.
Make sure you attend check-ups with your GP surgery for conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Our diabetes pages contain more information on managing Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes:
Meet the team
How long will I have to wait for surgery?
How long you have to wait will depend on what surgery you are having. We are working to treat people as quickly as possible.
Click here for more information about waiting times across Wales.
