This page provides some helpful information to assist you when preparing for your surgery. Please read this information alongside anything you received directly from your consultant.
If you have any questions before your admission please contact us or your consultant’s practice manager directly.
Please check which of our locations your surgery is taking place at.
The Moorfields Private Admission & Refractive Suite is on the fourth floor of the main hospital on City Road.
In the heart of London's medical district
If you experience any changes in your health after your nurse telephone assessment but before your surgery, please let us know on the number below. If there is a chance you could be pregnant please also inform us. Your surgeon will need to confirm how we can safely continue with your care.
You will be asked to arrive before the time of surgery so that the nurses can carry out observations, and complete the admission process before you are taken to theatre.
If you need to reschedule your procedure for personal reasons please let us know at your earliest convenience so your surgical slot can be offered to another patient. This helps ensure patients can be seen as soon as possible.
A pre-assessment call is arranged for you before your procedure. The team on this call will confirm some details with you and ask you questions about your health.
Please advise your consultant’s practice manager if you need an interpreter for this call or if there is a preferred time of day. We will do our best to accommodate you.
If you have had cataract procedure with us and you are attending for procedure on your second eye, you will not need the pre-assessment call unless more than 3 months have passed since your initial operation. However, please do let us know if you have had any significant changes to your health that we should be aware of.
If you’re visiting us for a treatment that can be undertaken within 6 hours and you are not staying overnight, you’ll be doing so as a day-case patient. You will be discharged when it is safe to do so after assessment following surgery. We may ask you to wait in our discharge lounge if you are fit to leave but your companion has not yet arrived to collect you.
Please do not arrange transport/taxi ahead of your visit as we cannot guarantee when you will be fit to be discharged. Please speak to your nurse if you have questions about the length of time you will be in the hospital.
If you are staying overnight, please bring personal toiletries such as toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoos, denture cleaners, shaving equipment, hairbrush/comb and nightwear. We will provide you with towels.
You may wish to bring books, magazines and other things to pass the time. WiFi is available should you wish to bring a tablet or laptop. You are welcome to bring your mobile phone (although, in some areas of the hospital, using a mobile phone is not allowed).
There are lockers available in each room, but please note that we cannot accept responsibility for any personal possessions brought into the hospital. If you need to bring certain valuables into the hospital, please make sure that you are fully covered by your own insurance.
Please do not attend your appointment if you have any symptoms of Covid. If you are experiencing any symptoms, please contact your practice manager so they can rearrange your appointment for a time when it is safe for you to travel.
If you are coming in for surgery, you will need to complete a lateral flow test 24 hours before your appointment. These are available from any pharmacy for purchase. After taking your test, you can register your results if you have an NHS login on gov.uk, or ring 119 and they can do this for you. You will need to bring in a copy of the email (if you test was registered online), a photo of the test or the test itself in a clear plastic bag as evidence of your result.
International patients should take a lateral flow test in the 24 hours before their procedure and should bring the results of the test with them. There is no longer any requirement to isolate before procedure, and there is no requirement for testing prior to outpatient appointments.
Please bring with you all relevant medical information and prescribed or non-prescribed medication you are taking. Please ensure any medication is in its original packaging. This is helpful for the clinical teams who will be caring for you during your time with us.
Please advise the nursing team if you have any allergies to any foods, latex or medicines or have any special dietary requirements. Our catering team will gladly assist you on your arrival.
Normally, relatives/friends are not encouraged to stay with patients. However, permission may be granted for a carer under exceptional circumstances. Please inform your consultant’s practice manager who can assist with your request.
You may have been asked to fast before your procedure. Fasting means not eating or drinking for a certain amount of time. Fasting is usually necessary for surgical procedures involving a general anaesthetic, which means you’ll be asleep.
Your consultant will let you know how long you need to fast for during your pre-operation screening, which will normally happen at a date prior to your actual operation.
A multi-faith room is available for our patients and religious representatives.If you would like to arrange a visit from our Anglican Chaplain or from a leader of your own faith, please speak to a member of our team.
Moorfields Private is protected by 24-hour security. However, please note that we cannot accept responsibility for any personal possessions brought into the hospital.
Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on our premises including entrances. Usage of these within hospital premises may result in the full evacuation of the building.
Please do not arrive earlier than advised. The reception team will direct you to the relevant suite for admission.
You will be required to complete a registration form. Please bring the name and address of your insurer, policy number and authorisation code with you if relevant.
You will be shown to room and given time to settle in. Once settled, your nurse will ask you a number of health-related questions and undertake checks which may include blood pressure and heart rate.
If you are having day surgery, your consultant and nurse will be able to advise an approximate time of discharge once you have arrived, day surgery patients are discharged after the consultant has seen you and assessed your recovery.
You may not feel well enough to drive or take public transport, so we’d recommend you arrange for someone to pick you up. If this isn’t possible a taxi can be arranged from the main reception on the ground floor or you can also opt for an Uber type service. Black cabs are available directly outside the hospital, to the right of the main entrance.
Before you are discharged we will provide details about any ongoing medication or treatment required. Your consultant’s practice manager may arrange follow-up appointments by phone. Any take home medications will be dispensed by our private patient pharmacy team.
If you’ve accrued extra charges during your visit, you can settle your outstanding balance by calling us on 0207 566 2449 no later than 3 working days after your departure.
To avoid delays, postponements or cancellations please ensure that your payment is received 7 days prior to admission.
If you have feedback about your visit, please contact us
For questions about your admission to Moorfields Private, please contact our admissions team. We are available Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm.