Day surgery: a consumer survey.

Two hundred and eleven day surgical patients admitted to the day procedures area at Hutt Hospital were surveyed after discharge. The level of patient satisfaction was high, and increased with age. Forty-seven percent of adult patients rated their experience as excellent. Seventy-four percent reported no personal disadvantage of day surgery. The most common advantages were minimal disruption to their lifestyle and that of their family, and avoidance of an overnight stay. Twenty-four percent reported problems after discharge, in particular pain.