Patient Information

Dr Bala operates at Reem Hospital AbuDhabi by prior appointment which may be made by contacting us via the email /whatsapp link provided.

We’ll usually advise you when you book what you’ll need to do and bring with you, but here’s a handy checklist.

Your referral letter from your GP or other health professional
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time so that you can fill in any paperwork.
Bring your Emirates ID with you.
If relevant, bring any Health Fund or Concession Cards you may have
If your injury is part of a Work Cover claim, bring your claim number and case manager’s contact details.
Any existing X-rays, scans or reports relevant to your injury
Details of any current medication and allergies
Details of any past surgeries even if they don’t relate to this particular injury.
Wear something that allows your injury to be easily examined. You may consider wearing suitable under garments.

We accept EFTPOS (Visa, Mastercard) and cash payments, and your account must be paid in full on the day. To claim any insurance, we’ll need a copy of your referral letter.
(We can advise you of the cost of your appointment when you book).

Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for surgery is an important part of your journey to a positive outcome. Getting a great result is definitely a team effort, and by following a few simple steps, you can play an active role in your own recovery and ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Medical history and tests

As part of preparing for surgery, we’ll start by discussing your medical history to identify anything that could possibly affect the outcome of your surgery. There may also be blood tests, ECGs, X-rays and a full physical examination.

Medication

At this time, we’ll also ask about any medications you may be taking to see if there’s anything you’ll need to stop taking like anticoagulants, newer anti-rheumatoid medication or prednisolone. (If you’re using something like aspirin, anti-inflammatory, warfarin, plavix or anything else that could increase the risk of bleeding we’ll usually ask you to stop taking it a week before surgery.)

Diet and Weight
Eating a well-balanced diet in the lead up to your surgery will help with your recovery. You should also consider supplementing your diet with a daily multivitamin and iron. If you’re overweight, losing weight before your surgery will help with your recovery post-surgery. However, please discuss any weight loss plans with Dr Bala as part of your preparation.

Smoking
We know how difficult some people find it to quit or even cut back on smoking, but giving up will absolutely reduce any risks of surgery and help your recovery. So, if you’ve ever considered quitting, now’s an excellent time to do that. We can give you some advice on resources to help you do this if you need it.

Illnesses and infections

If you have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems, it’s advantageous to have them treated before your surgery to reduce the risk of infection later. Please let us know about any illnesses you may have, and in particular, any infections as to avoid unnecessary risks, surgery cannot be performed until they have cleared up.

Home planning

Different surgeries require different levels of preparation and our team will talk you through what is relevant to you. For example, for joint replacements you discuss home care options and plan any equipment you may need. We’ll also discuss whether you may need assistance with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry, and how to put items you use often within easy reach to avoid reaching unnecessarily. We’ll make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion and back and two arms, and that your shower or bath is safe and easy to get in and out of. We’ll offer advice on things like handrails, non-slip mats and suitable stools to sit on if we think they’ll come in handy. As you can see, there’s plenty of things to consider, but don’t worry, we’ve been doing this a long time and will go through everything with you and make it easy for you.

We charge the standard fees as outlined by the Ministry of Health/ Department of Health which means on some occasions, should you require surgery, there may be a ‘gap payment’ required beyond what health funds will cover. Surgery involves a number of medical professionals on the team, including the surgeon as well as their assistant and the anaesthetist, plus hospital costs. While that may sound a little daunting, rest assured we will give you very clear information on this so there’s no confusion and you know exactly what costs are involved, and what is and isn’t covered.

If you require any more information, please do not hesitate to call us during office hours.

Here’s a few tips if you’re having day surgery:

You cannot drive for at least 24 hours after your surgery so you’ll need someone to take you home.

Do not eat or drink anything in the car on the way home as you’ll still be recovering from the anaesthesia and combined with the motion of the car, there’s a very high chance you’ll feel nauseous and possibly vomit.

When you get home, wait until you feel hungry before trying to eat, and start with a light meal. Try and avoid greasy food for at least 24 hours.

If you had surgery on an extremity (shoulder, elbow or hand) keep that limb elevated and use ice as directed to help decrease the swelling and pain.

The best time to take your pain medicine is when you first start getting uncomfortable. If you wait until the pain escalates, it will be more difficult to get under control. Always follow any other directions you are given about how to take your pain medicine.