Patient Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General anaesthesia
General anaesthesia uses drugs that make you unconscious. With a general anaesthetic you are unconscious and feel nothing. You cannot be woken from a general anaesthetic until the drugs are stopped and their effects wear off.

A general anaesthetic is required for a very wide range of operations, including emergency surgery.

Anaesthetic drugs are injected into a vein, anaesthetic gases are given to you through a mask or there is a combination of both.

While you are unconscious, the team in the operating theatre look after you with great care. Your anaesthetist or other qualified healthcare professional stays near you and monitors you all the time.

Local anaesthesia
A local anaesthetic numbs a small part of the body where you are having the operation. It is used when nerves can be easily reached by drops, sprays, ointments or injections. You stay conscious and free from pain, but you may feel some tugging and pulling around the area of the surgery. Local anaesthetics can be easily topped up if more is required. Common examples of procedures that often use local anaesthetics are dental treatments and cataract surgery.

Regional anaesthesia
This is when a local anaesthetic drug is injected near to the nerves that supply a larger or deeper area of the body. The area of the body affected becomes numb. This can last for several hours.

Spinals and epidurals, or a combination of the two, are the most common type of regional anaesthetics. These injections can be used for operations on the lower body, such as caesarean section, bladder or abdominal operations or replacing a hip. You remain conscious, but free from pain.

Other types of regional anaesthetics involve an injection placed near to a nerve or group of nerves, for example, in the arm or leg. This is often called a ‘nerve block’ and can allow you to have the operation without a general anaesthetic.

Nerve blocks and regional anaesthetics are also used in combination with a general anaesthetic to give pain relief after the operation, because the area will stay numb for several hours after surgery.

The anaesthetist will discuss with you the type of anaesthetic that they think is best for you, depending on the procedure that you are having, the benefits and risks specific to you and your health at the time of surgery.

Sedation
Sedation involves drugs (sedatives) that make you feel drowsy and relaxed during a procedure. The level of sedation can be light, moderate or deep. The type of sedation will affect how aware you are of what’s going on during the procedure and how much you remember after. Sedatives are usually given into your vein (intravenous or IV), but can sometimes be given by mouth (oral) or as a gas through a facemask.

The drugs are used for a wide range of procedures and are often needed to investigate problems in the body, for example, in the stomach. Some people having a local or regional anaesthetic do not want to be fully awake during the procedure and they may request to have sedation as well.

For more detailed information about anaesthesia and sedation for different procedures, please visit our Patient information leaflets and video resources.

The word anaesthesia means ‘loss of sensation’ and it stops you feeling pain during surgery and other procedures. Anaesthetic drugs stop the brain from responding to signals travelling from nerves in the body. Anaesthesia also reduces the body’s stress response to surgery and helps recovery. Many common procedures and life-saving operations would not be possible without the drugs, techniques and equipment used by anaesthetists.

Anaesthesia can be used to numb a specific part of the body or to give a deep sleep-like state during which the patient is unconscious.

Anaesthetic drugs are powerful drugs that can affect many functions in the body.

For this reason, anaesthetics are given by doctors with specialist training in anaesthesia (known as anaesthetists in the UK and anaesthesiologists in the USA) or other healthcare professionals who have received specialised training, but under the supervision of anaesthetic doctors.

Anaesthesia is not just about giving the anaesthetics. Anaesthetists and the staff supporting them also play an important role in making sure that:

• you are properly assessed and in the best possible condition for surgery
• you are kept safe during and after surgery
• there is a plan in place for your recovery.

This is known as ‘perioperative care’ (the care that you receive around the time of an operation – before, during and after) and it helps ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome from your surgery. More information on perioperative care and what it means for patients can be found on the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) website.

Sometimes there is a choice between different types of anaesthetics that you can have. The anaesthetist will discuss with you the benefits, risks and your preferences. You can then decide together which anaesthetic is best for you.

However, this is not always possible. For certain types of surgery, and if a patient has existing medical conditions, only a certain type of anaesthetic will be appropriate. Your anaesthetist will explain the reasons why a certain type of anaesthetic will be better for you. Your safety will always be the most important consideration in these decisions.

Nothing will happen to you until you understand and consent (give permission) to what has been planned. You can refuse the treatment or ask for more information, or more time to decide.

This type of discussion is known as ‘shared decision-making’. Shared decision-making ensures that individuals are supported to make decisions that are right for them. It is a collaborative process through which a healthcare professional supports a patient to reach a decision about their treatment.

The conversation brings together:

• the healthcare professional’s expertise, treatment options, evidence, risks and benefits
• The patient’s preferences, personal circumstances, goals, values and beliefs.

You can find out more about shared decision-making on the NHS England website. Information on shared decision-making for people living in Scotland is available on the NHS inform website, and for people living in Wales, you can find more information on the NHS Wales website.

Anaesthetists are doctors who have had specialist training in anaesthesia. Working with members of the anaesthetic team, your anaesthetist is responsible for:

• assessing whether you are fit enough to have the anaesthetic for your operation
• talking to you about which type of anaesthetic might be best and getting your permission (consent) for it
• agreeing a plan with you for your anaesthetic and pain control afterwards
• looking after you and closely monitoring your condition throughout the operation
• looking after you immediately after the operation in the recovery room or in an intensive care unit.

There are different grades of anaesthetists, depending on their level of training and experience. They have all completed basic medical training and are medically qualified doctors.

Consultant anaesthetists have completed the full anaesthetic training which lasts seven years. They are the most senior anaesthetists, who often manage anaesthetic departments and are ultimately responsible for the anaesthetic care of patients.

Specialty and associate specialist (SAS) anaesthetists have completed at least two years of specialist training in anaesthesia. Depending on their skills and experience, these doctors may work alone, but always as part of a team led by a consultant anaesthetist.

Resident doctors are registered doctors who will be at various stages of anaesthetic training. They work under the supervision of more senior doctors. The level of supervision will depend on their experience and the stage of their training. A consultant is always available to help them.

Information on how anaesthetists are trained can be found in our Considering a career in anaesthesia section.

Anaesthetists are also supported by a wide range of trained healthcare professionals. More information can be found in our anaesthesia team section.

If you are having a planned operation, you may be invited to attend a preoperative assessment clinic (preassessment). Some patients will see an anaesthetist at this stage. Preoperative assessment clinics are usually managed by qualified nurses and other healthcare professionals who are trained in assessing the health of a patient before surgery. They will ask questions about your health and will arrange any tests that might be required in the weeks leading up to the surgery. If they have any concerns about your health or if you are considered to be at high risk, they will discuss your case with a senior anaesthetist who will agree a plan for your care with you.

At the preoperative assessment clinic you can ask any questions or raise any concerns that you might have with the healthcare team. It may be helpful to write down all the questions that you have ahead of the appointment.

More information about preoperative assessment can be found in our leaflet You and your anaesthetic.

The anaesthetist looking after you during surgery is unlikely to be the same as the one you met in the clinic. Even so you will have the opportunity to meet and talk to your anaesthetist on the day of the operation.

There is much that you can do as a patient to prepare for an operation.

Evidence shows that fitter patients recover quicker from surgery and with fewer complications. You can use the time while you wait for your surgery to get in the best possible shape. You might consider improving your fitness levels and your diet. If you smoke, vape or drink heavily you might consider quitting or cutting back.

It’s also important to use this time to see your GP and ensure that any existing medical conditions are well managed and your medication is up to date. You might also want to visit the dentist to make sure that your teeth are in good condition to reduce the risk of damage during surgery if your breathing needs to be supported using a special tube placed in your airway (your windpipe).

If you feel anxious about the idea of having surgery and anaesthesia, you might want to look at techniques to help you relax and manage your anxiety. The RCoA offers resources and information on this in our Preparing your mind before surgery section.

Taking an active role in planning and preparing for surgery can also help you feel less anxious and more in control. For example, you might want to think about what preparations you need to make at home to help your recovery, what support you might need, whether you have enough food and medication and who can help you look after pets and dependants while you are in hospital or at home recovering.

More detailed information on all the things you can do to prepare for surgery can be found in our Fitter Better Sooner toolkit.

You should continue to take your usual medicines up to and including the day of the operation, unless you are told not to. You should carefully follow the instructions that you have been given by the staff at the preoperative assessment clinic.

Look out for specific instructions if you take:

• drugs to thin your blood like warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel or aspirin
• drugs for diabetes
• blood pressure pills
• hormonal contraceptives
• herbal remedies.

If you have not been given instructions on the above medications, please contact your hospital. Remember to take your medication into hospital with you and ensure that you have enough for when you return home.

Recreational drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin or the so-called ‘legal highs’ can affect the way anaesthetics work and how you react to pain after your operation, and can lead to withdrawal problems after your anaesthetic.

You should inform your anaesthetist or the preoperative assessment clinic if you have used or regularly use recreational drugs. Ideally, you should make sure that you do not take any recreational drugs in the days preceding your operation. Check with your anaesthetic department or GP if you need information on sources of support.

Yes. It is very important that you let the anaesthetist and preoperative assessment clinic know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are of childbearing age, you will usually have a pregnancy test before surgery (carried out on a urine sample).

Your anaesthetist will try to use the drugs that are thought to be the safest for you and your baby. However, because there may be some risks to the baby from having an anaesthetic or surgery, it is advisable to have only essential surgery while pregnant. Experts agree that the second trimester (three to six months) is the safest time and it is best to avoid anaesthetics in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks) if possible.

It is possible that a pregnancy test might not show that you are pregnant in the first trimester and therefore surgery and anaesthesia might proceed without you or the doctors knowing that you are pregnant. If you are of childbearing age and there is a possibility that you might be pregnant, you should discuss these risks with your anaesthetist or at your preoperative assessment. More information on the risks associated with anaesthesia during pregnancy can be found on the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website.

Having an anaesthetic is often thought to be especially risky, but the evidence is that very few people having an anaesthetic these days come to serious harm because of the anaesthetic. The surgery itself carries risks, not just the anaesthetic.

We now have a much greater understanding about the drugs used for anaesthesia. Modern anaesthetic drugs are designed to meet the needs of every patient to achieve the effect required, depending on the type of surgery and the general health of the patient. For a typical anaesthetic in the UK, an anaesthetist will use at least eight different electronic monitors which give information about a variety of body functions.

The anaesthetist or a member of the anaesthetic team stays beside you all the way through the procedure. They will be adjusting the doses of the drugs so that you receive just the right amount to keep you unconscious, pain free and safe.

Surgery requiring anaesthesia in babies and young children takes place only when absolutely necessary and when delaying would cause greater harm than not going ahead with the surgery. In cases where surgery is needed, serious complications because of the anaesthetic in children are rare, even in very young and very sick children. Parents and carers should discuss the potential risks and benefits of any proposed surgery requiring anaesthesia with their child’s healthcare professionals.

More information on this can be found in our infographics on Common events and risks for children and young people having a general anaesthetic.

Many parents and carers are concerned about the effect that anaesthesia might have on a child’s developing brain. Various studies have been carried out in recent years to try to determine the effects of anaesthetics on very young children, but no conclusive evidence has been found that anaesthetics have a detrimental effect on the brain development of babies and young children.

More detailed information on research into the effects of anaesthetics on the developing brain can be found on the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland website.

It is important for children and young people to be well prepared for surgery. Information on all the things that children and young people can do to improve their lifestyle and health before surgery can be found in our Information for children, parents and carers section.

Risks depend very much on the type of procedure and the health condition of each individual patient. Anaesthetists are trained to explain potential risks to patients and to support them in making decisions about their treatment.

Anaesthetic risks can be described as side effects or complications. These words are somewhat similar but are generally used in different circumstances.

Some side effects are predictable and expected. For example, feeling sick and having a sore throat are relatively common side effects after a general anaesthetic, but are short-lived and easily treated.

Complications are unwanted and unexpected events resulting from a treatment. An example is a severe allergic reaction to a drug. Anaesthetists are trained to take steps to prevent complications and to treat them if they happen.

You can find more detailed information about the risks associated with anaesthesia in our Anaesthesia and risk section.

The drugs given to you during a general anaesthetic can affect your breathing. Anaesthetists are trained to monitor and support your breathing during surgery. A breathing tube is usually inserted when you are unconscious, which protects your airway and keeps you safe. This is known as ‘intubation’.

Intubation is normally done when you are unconscious and the tube is taken out before you come round from the anaesthetic, so you won’t feel any discomfort. Most patients have no memory of this breathing tube being inserted. In rare cases the tube may have to be inserted while you are awake, but the anaesthetist will discuss this with you if they feel that this is necessary.

You can find out more in our leaflet Your airway and breathing during anaesthesia.

For healthy patients undergoing minor planned surgery, dying from a general anaesthetic is very rare.

Most of the deaths that occur around the time of surgery are not caused by the anaesthetic, but due to reasons connected with the health of an individual or the operation that they are having. There may be things about your health or the type of operation that you are having that increase the risk of dying during a general anaesthetic. For example, death is more likely if:

• you are older
• you need major surgery on your heart or lungs, your brain, your major blood vessels or your bowels
• you need emergency surgery, including surgery for major trauma
• you are very unwell before your operation.

The anaesthetist will discuss the specific risks with you before you sign your consent form. After the risks have been explained to you, you can decide whether you want to go ahead with the operation.

More information on risks and serious complications can be found in our Anaesthesia and risk section.

Waking up during an anaesthetic is referred to as ‘accidental awareness’. It is very rare for anyone to become ‘aware’ during a general anaesthetic. Rarely, people may remember the feeling of a tube in the throat being taken out as they wake up. Some people also have dreams around the time they wake up and on the recovery ward.

In 2014, a very large study (NAP5: Accidental Awareness during General Anaesthesia in the UK and Ireland) was published. This showed that some awareness happens in 1 in 20,000 patients during a general anaesthetic. Since then, advances in equipment and monitoring the level of anaesthesia have helped to reduce the chances of this happening. An anaesthetist or a member of the anaesthetic team will be with you all the time during your surgery and watching all monitoring equipment closely to check that you are getting the right amount of anaesthetic to keep you asleep and pain free.

You can find out more about the risk of waking up during general anaesthesia in our Anaesthesia and risk section.

Becoming confused is common after an operation and an anaesthetic, especially in older people. Behaviour and memory can be affected and there may be some deterioration in some mental functions such as the ability to get dressed or do crosswords. This is more likely to happen in older and frail people. This can be temporary or more long term, but most people make a full recovery.

Severe brain damage from anaesthesia is very rare. On the very rare occasions when it does occur, the brain damage may be permanent and cause an inability to think, feel or move normally. Exact figures for this risk do not exist. Such permanent brain damage may be caused by a stroke that occurs during an anaesthetic. The risk of having a stroke that causes brain damage during general anaesthesia increases for:

• older people
• anyone who has had a previous stroke
• people having surgery to the brain or head and neck, surgery on the carotid artery (a major blood vessel which supplies the brain) or heart surgery.

Most strokes occur between two and ten days after surgery and are due to the after-effects of the surgery and the anaesthetic, and the condition of the patient before the operation.

More information on risks and serious complications can be found in our Anaesthesia and risk section.

It is very common to be anxious before an operation. There is much you can do, however, to help yourself at this time.

If it is your first time having an operation, it is usually helpful to find out more about going into hospital. The RCoA produces information to help patients prepare for surgery and feel more in control. You might find it useful to read our Fitter Better Sooner toolkit.

You will usually be invited to see a nurse or anaesthetist for a preoperative assessment visit. This is your opportunity to ask questions and say what you are worried about. Consider writing your questions down before you go to the appointment so that you don’t forget them. Don’t worry if you think that your questions might seem a bit silly, because all questions are important and staff are used to explaining what will happen and the choices that you have.

Your nurse will give you an information sheet to remind you of what to do before you go into hospital, because it is easy to forget if you are anxious. If your anxiety is very severe, mention it to your anaesthetist, who may sometimes be able to offer you a sedative before your operation.

If you have mental health problems, it is important that you talk to your nurse about these and anything that can affect this. If you are taking medication for mental health problems, it is important to let the nurse at the hospital know about your medication. They will usually ask you to keep taking your medication. They can help organise any support that you need for your time in hospital or return home.

In the time before your operation, it can help to exercise and eat healthily if you are able to. It is good to spend some time with friends or family and planning with them for when you are home after the operation (so that you do not need to worry when you are in hospital about, for example, childcare or paying bills).

Many techniques, including mindfulness, relaxation and breathing exercises could help you relax before and after your surgery. The RCoA has produced a Preparing your mind before surgery toolkit for patients who feel anxious about surgery.

The effects of anaesthetic drugs may last for around 24 hours, longer for major operations. If your operation is a day case (you will go home the same day of the operation), you will need to arrange to have an able-bodied adult to take you home and be with you that night.

You should not look after children during this time, use any dangerous equipment, drive or cook. If you think that you will have significant difficulties looking after your children after an operation, talk to your local council or your health visitor. If you have pets, you should arrange for someone to look after them while you are in hospital and until you are able to look after them yourself.

You should also avoid making any important decisions and should be careful not to post anything on social media that you might later regret.

Although the effects of the anaesthetic are short-lived, you may feel tired or even exhausted for some days after the operation as your body recovers from the operation. After major surgery, this can last for weeks or months.

If you ask a relative or friend to take care of you after surgery, they may find it helpful to read our leaflet Caring for someone recovering from a general anaesthetic or sedation.

Regional anaesthetics, such as spinals and epidurals, can last for up to 4 hours. As sensation returns you may experience some tingling and you may feel unsteady on your feet. You should not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours after having an epidural or a spinal.

The effects of nerve blocks can last for up to 48 hours. You may need someone to help you with daily tasks in the days after surgery. Make sure that you use any support that the hospital has given you and take care to protect the numbed area from heat sources. Nerve blocks can stop working quite suddenly, so it’s important that you start taking pain medication as instructed by the hospital.

Evidence shows that patients who drink, eat and walk within 24 hours of surgery have shorter hospital stays, and recover quicker and with fewer complications. For most operations, you will be encouraged to eat and drink as soon as you are able to after surgery.

More information on the benefits of drinking, eating and mobilising after surgery can be found in this article which was published in the College Bulletin.

If you have problems passing urine because of an enlarged prostate, sometimes drugs used during an anaesthetic can make things a little worse in the early period after your anaesthetic. If you are having a day-case operation (going home the same day), you will need to pass urine before you are allowed to go home. Occasionally, it may be necessary to put a catheter (a flexible soft tube) into your bladder to drain urine before you can pass urine normally again. This may delay you going home. If problems passing urine continue, you may need to be seen by a urologist (a doctor who specialises in urinary and prostate problems).

General anaesthetics do not normally have an effect on breastfed babies. It is recommended that you breastfeed up until your operation and continue breastfeeding as soon as you are awake and feel ready to do so afterwards. Very small amounts of anaesthetic may pass into breast milk, but it will still be safe to breastfeed as soon as you are able. Some painkillers can make your baby sleepy, so it is important that your anaesthetist knows that you are breastfeeding so that they can prescribe the most appropriate medication.

Just as you should have a responsible adult with you for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic, it is also important that you are not the primary carer for your child for the first 24 hours. It is important to be aware that the risks of co-sleeping may be increased after anaesthesia because you may feel particularly tired.

More information on breastfeeding and anaesthesia is available from the Association of Anaesthetists website.

After most general anaesthetics, you will initially be cared for in a recovery room close to the operating theatre. When you first arrive in recovery after a general anaesthetic, you will feel fairly drowsy. It is common at this stage to drift off to sleep and perhaps dream. You may be aware of other patients around and the noise of monitors beeping. As you become more alert, the recovery staff will sit you up and talk to you. It is common not to remember a great deal of your time in recovery afterwards.

Staff in the recovery room will usually give you extra oxygen through either a clear facemask or soft plastic tubes that sit under your nostrils. This is routine and does not mean that you are unwell. Staff in the recovery room are also responsible for monitoring your vital signs (such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature). They will also ask you how you feel and treat any sickness or pain that you may have. Sometimes you may feel a little cold or shivery. If this happens, they can give you a blanket to warm you. They will regularly check your wound to make sure that there is no bleeding.

Many people have no nausea or sickness after surgery, but some can feel very sick. Your anaesthetist will assess your risk of sickness when visiting you before your operation. They will prescribe you drugs to help treat any sickness that you might develop after the operation.

When the person looking after you in the recovery area is happy that you are awake, comfortable and stable, you will be able to return to your bed on the ward. They will hand over all the important information and instructions to the nurse from the ward. On the ward the staff will continue to check all your vital signs, but less often. Depending on your surgery, they may allow you to have some sips of water before giving you something more to drink and eat. Try to rest and relax at this time. Your nurse will be experienced at knowing how you should progress and will call the ward doctor if they have any concerns. They will also know when you are likely to be ready to go home so they can ask the person who is collecting you to come to the hospital.

It’s normal to feel some pain and discomfort after surgery and it’s important to reduce pain as much as possible after surgery. As well as making you comfortable, pain relief allows you to get active more quickly and reduces complications.

If you have good pain relief, you will be able to:

• breathe deeply and cough (which will help make sure that you do not develop a chest infection after your operation)
• move about freely. Exactly how much and how soon you will move around the bed, or get out of bed, will depend on the operation that you have had and your general state of health. Early movement helps prevent blood clots in your legs (deep-vein thrombosis or DVT). Getting out of bed helps you to expand your lungs and to avoid a chest infection. It also helps prevent stiff joints, an aching back and skin sores where you have been lying. In some cases a physiotherapist can be called on to help patients move again after surgery.

Your anaesthetist will talk with you before your operation about pain relief afterwards. They will discuss with you the different types of pain relief that you might need depending on your surgery and their side effects. You can discuss your preferences and decide together what pain relief is best for you.

Some people need more pain relief than others. Occasionally, pain is a warning sign that all is not well. If your pain increases you should tell the nurses as soon as possible, so that they can assess you and adjust the medication accordingly.

Different types of pain relief drugs might be used after surgery, depending on the type of procedure that you have had. You might be prescribed paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) or something stronger such as opioids, or a combination of both.

Pain medication may be given to you in tablet or liquid form or through a vein. When pain is more persistent and harder to manage you might be offered patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), a machine that allows you to operate a pump to deliver a small dose of a strong painkiller into your vein. This means that you are in control of your own pain relief. The machine has safety systems to make sure that you do not give yourself an overdose.

For some operations below the waist, you might be offered an epidural catheter, a small tube placed in your back that delivers pain relief at regular intervals until pain can be controlled with tablets or liquids.

Sometimes, for larger surgical wounds, a local anaesthetic catheter might be placed in the nerves around the cut to deliver targeted pain relief to the area.

You will also be given instructions about pain relief to take when you go home. It’s important that you follow the instructions that you are given carefully.

If the healthcare team thinks that you might require stronger painkillers, such as opioids, they will give you instructions on how to take these and the possible side effects. It’s important that you reduce and then stop these medications as soon as the pain can be managed with less strong drugs, because their continued use can cause you significant harm. It might be a good idea to stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen before the operation.

More information on different types of pain medication can be found on the Faculty of Pain Medicine website.

The length of your recovery will depend on the type of surgery that you have had and your physical condition at the time of surgery. More complex operations may require a stay in a high-dependency or intensive care unit, where you will be monitored very closely in the days after surgery. This type of operation normally requires a longer recovery. More information can be found in our leaflet Your anaesthetic for major surgery with planned high dependency or intensive care afterwards.

Your anaesthetist and surgeon will be able to advise you on how long you can expect your recovery to take.

Your level of fitness at the time of surgery can also have an impact on the length of your recovery. Generally fitter patients who are well prepared for surgery recover quicker and with fewer complications.

More information on how to prepare for surgery and what to expect during recovery can be found in our Fitter Better Sooner toolkit.

The effects of anaesthetic drugs may last for around 24 hours and longer for major operations.

After any general anaesthetic or sedation, you must not drive for at least 24 hours. This is because the drugs given during your anaesthetic or sedation can affect your reactions and how you think and make decisions. It takes at least 24 hours for your body to get rid of these medicines.

It may take longer to recover from your surgery than from your anaesthetic. Your surgeon will give you advice on when it should be safe for you to drive after your procedure or operation.

Before getting back in the driving seat, you will need to be sure that you can use the brakes and drive safely without being distracted by pain.

If you are taking strong painkillers, you also need to be aware that these drugs can make you feel drowsy and affect your driving.

By law it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs. You need to decide whether you think that you can drive safely. If you feel drowsy, distracted by pain or generally unwell, you’ll need to wait a little longer until it is safe for you to drive.

You should check with your insurance company that you are covered to drive after your surgery.

Check with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about any specific time periods recommended.