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Improving information and support for patients and carers, while waiting for surgery
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Local hospitals, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust or Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are working in partnership to develop a section on our website to provide information and support to patients waiting for surgery. This project aims to:
provide support resources for patients on surgical waiting lists
help patients optimise their health and wellbeing while waiting for surgery
improve patient understanding around the admitted pathway, to support them in preparing for surgery
Over the last few month the team has been working with patients and carers from all backgrounds within our communities to gather insight how best to design this content to respond to the needs of patients waiting for surgery.
In December 2024 the team organised two focus groups involving a diverse group of patients who had experience of either elective or emergency surgeries. Their feedback has helped shape the project’s direction and set up next steps.
Key insights
Information accessibility and distribution via effective and diverse channels
Multiple communication channels are needed to reach different groups, including via GP surgeries, community newsletters, mobile apps, and events
Content should be in various formats like written articles, videos, and podcasts
It is important to accommodate the needs of diverse audiences including different languages, education levels and neurodiversity
Mental health and psychological support
The need for better psychological preparation for surgery was raised, with a focus on anxiety management and emotional support during long waiting periods
Participants highlighted the need for clearer, more accessible information in wellbeing and lifestyle advice – empowerment to self-manage where possible as well as the value of connecting patients to existing support services and resources
Communication gaps
The need for clearer, honest communication about waiting times, risks, and surgery delays
Regular updates and transparency were raised as being very important as well as improved communications between primary and secondary care
Care coordination
Patients often struggle with managing multiple conditions while waiting for surgery
Clear guidance and better coordination across different organisations involved in people’s care are needed to support patients through the surgery journey
How you can be involved?
To continue this work the team is developing a co-design lived experience group. If you have experience of waiting for surgery at either King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust or Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust please join the co-design group. The group will meet once every three months online, for 60 minutes, on a weekday evening. The first session is scheduled for 19 March 6:30 - 7:30pm.
By joining this group and informing this work, you will help ensure that the waiting well resources respond to what people need to know when waiting for surgery.
If you are interested in more information please contact Hannah Scott, Programme Manager, Hannah.scott40@nhs.net.
Local hospitals, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust or Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are working in partnership to develop a section on our website to provide information and support to patients waiting for surgery. This project aims to:
provide support resources for patients on surgical waiting lists
help patients optimise their health and wellbeing while waiting for surgery
improve patient understanding around the admitted pathway, to support them in preparing for surgery
Over the last few month the team has been working with patients and carers from all backgrounds within our communities to gather insight how best to design this content to respond to the needs of patients waiting for surgery.
In December 2024 the team organised two focus groups involving a diverse group of patients who had experience of either elective or emergency surgeries. Their feedback has helped shape the project’s direction and set up next steps.
Key insights
Information accessibility and distribution via effective and diverse channels
Multiple communication channels are needed to reach different groups, including via GP surgeries, community newsletters, mobile apps, and events
Content should be in various formats like written articles, videos, and podcasts
It is important to accommodate the needs of diverse audiences including different languages, education levels and neurodiversity
Mental health and psychological support
The need for better psychological preparation for surgery was raised, with a focus on anxiety management and emotional support during long waiting periods
Participants highlighted the need for clearer, more accessible information in wellbeing and lifestyle advice – empowerment to self-manage where possible as well as the value of connecting patients to existing support services and resources
Communication gaps
The need for clearer, honest communication about waiting times, risks, and surgery delays
Regular updates and transparency were raised as being very important as well as improved communications between primary and secondary care
Care coordination
Patients often struggle with managing multiple conditions while waiting for surgery
Clear guidance and better coordination across different organisations involved in people’s care are needed to support patients through the surgery journey
How you can be involved?
To continue this work the team is developing a co-design lived experience group. If you have experience of waiting for surgery at either King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust or Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust please join the co-design group. The group will meet once every three months online, for 60 minutes, on a weekday evening. The first session is scheduled for 19 March 6:30 - 7:30pm.
By joining this group and informing this work, you will help ensure that the waiting well resources respond to what people need to know when waiting for surgery.
If you are interested in more information please contact Hannah Scott, Programme Manager, Hannah.scott40@nhs.net.
If you are interested to be involved and help us improve the information and support for patients and carers, while waiting for surgery, please complete this short form and we will send you more details about the next session. It takes two minutes to complete.
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Information accessibility and distribution via effective and diverse channels 
Mental health and psychological support
Communication gaps
Care coordination
