General Surgery

If you are having surgery at the RBWH, you may see one of our physiotherapists after your surgery. If your surgery is planned, you may see a physiotherapist before your surgery at the pre-admission service.

Before your surgery

The RBWH does a variety of elective and emergency surgery including:

• Neurosurgery
• Head and neck surgery
• Thoracic and Abdominal surgery – for your lungs, chest, stomach and bowels
• Vascular surgery – for your arteries and veins
• Urological and gynaecological surgery – for your pelvic floor or reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, prostate)
• Orthopaedic surgery – for your joints (such as knees and hips) or spine (your neck and back)

If your surgery is planned as elective surgery, you may have an appointment with our physiotherapy team within one of the hospital’s preadmission clinics. For further information about these clinics please visit the preadmission clinic website

Information about getting ready for and recovering after surgery can be found in the RBWH My Surgical Pathway guide which you can access below in the resources section. It includes advice on keeping active before surgery, being active after surgery and the effect of smoking on your recovery.

After your surgery

Some people may see a physiotherapist after surgery to help get moving again and give you exercises to help with your recovery.

Please see below links that give you more information about recovery after surgery.

Resources