The overarching vision of the Department of Surgery at Women’s College Hospital is to provide innovative, person-centered care, that respects the diverse needs of our community, and focuses on caring for people in their homes rather than in hospitals. We strive to be a Canadian model for how to provide top-quality surgical care and support a sustainable health system for future generations.
The Department of Surgery at Women’s College Hospital provides a variety of services to patients with many different conditions. We focus on innovation and ambulatory surgery, and are able to treat many patients on a day-surgery basis.
Contact Info
Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville Street
Floor 3, 4, 5 and 8
Preadmission Clinic
Floor 8
Phone: 416-323-6260
Fax: 416-323-6169
Hours of Service
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Our Programs
General Surgery, Toronto Anorectal Program (TARP) and Hernia clinic
Floor 5 | Phone: 416-323-6014Our surgeons specialize in common procedures such as gall bladder and hernia surgery, anorectal conditions such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures and breast surgery for benign conditions as well as breast cancer.
Orthopedic Sports Medicine Clinic
Floor: 8 | Phone: 416-323-6260 | Fax: 416-323-6169
Hours of Service: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Our surgeons specialize in sports medicine, including soft tissue trauma and sports injuries, as well as complex knee, complex shoulder, foot and ankle, cartilage and joint restoration, revision procedures and hip.
Total Joint Replacement Program
We have a unique day-surgery program, where we provide knee and hip joint replacements without a hospital stay.
Urologic Surgery
Floor: 5
Phone: 416-323-6014Our surgeons focus on male fertility procedures, as well as male and female sexual medicine and surgery. We also specialize in feminizing transition-related genital surgery (vaginoplasty).
Endocrine Surgery
Phone: 416-323-6013
Fax: 416-323-6308Our surgeons have developed innovative programs in same-day surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as removal of adrenal glands.
Transition-Related Surgeries
Floor: 5
Phone: 416-323-6148
Email: transitionrelatedsurgery@wchospital.caThis program is composed of multidisciplinary team members including urologists, plastic surgeons, gynecologists, nurses, physiotherapists and psychiatrists. Our specialized, multidisciplinary team is devoted to providing high-quality care with a focus on optimizing the patient experience and surgical outcomes.
Surgical Experience
Scheduled for a surgery at WCH? Our team put together the following videos and information to provide you with an inside look at what to expect from your surgery experience.
Preoperative Experience
Surgery Day Experience
Postoperative Experience
- You have been booked to have a procedure at Women’s College Hospital. Please ensure you review the information provided to you by your doctor’s office and also the Ambulatory Surgery Brochure (.pdf) prior to your appointment in the Preadmission Clinic.
- You can sign up for the Women’s College Hospital patient portal called MyHealthRecord to access your health information, complete clinical documentation and view your appointments.
Preadmission Clinic
The goal of this program is to prepare you for your surgery and answer any questions you may have. A preadmission assessment is booked by your surgeon’s office and is required to be completed by all patients prior to your surgery date. If an assessment is not completed your procedure may be cancelled.
- Pre-registration for your surgery
- Instructions to prepare you for surgery, your discharge home and self-care
- Interview with your healthcare team:
- Nursing
- Anesthesia
- Physiotherapy
- Pharmacy
- If indicated, you may also participate in:
- Preoperative testing
- If you are booked for a virtual appointment, you must be able to navigate Zoom to be able to complete the virtual appointment with video present
Appointment will take 2-3 hours depending on your type of surgery
- Health Card
- Medication and Supplement List
- Specialist letters/tests
- Support Persoon
Please note: Interpretation services are available for all non-English speaking and sign language requests. Please notify your surgeon’s office ahead of time to arrange these services for your appointment if required. You can eat and take your medications as usual on the day of your preadmission health assessment.
Day of Surgery
There is paid parking in P2 and P3 of Women’s College Hospital. There is 15 minutes of drop off or pick up in front of the building. This is monitored.
Check-in at the Surgery reception desk on the 8th floor.
You must arrive 2 hours prior to your surgery time, unless otherwise instructed
You may take your medications as instructed by the physician on the day of surgery with small sips of water
Due to the limited waiting room space, we recommend that only one support person accompany you to the hospital
- Health card
- Comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes to wear home
- Socks to wear in surgery
- Extra pair of underpants
- Containers for your dentures, glasses/contact lenses and hearing aids, which must be removed prior to surgery
- A reusable bag for your belongings
- Jewelry; remove all body piercings
- Perfume/cologne, deodorant, body lotions/creams or scented products of any kind. Women’s College Hospital is a fragrance-free facility. We ask that all patients and their visitors refrain from wearing any scented products for the safety of other patients and staff.
- Makeup
- Colored nail polish on fingers (nail polish on toes is acceptable)
Leave ALL valuables – including large amounts of money, credit cards, jewelry and technology devices at home. The hospital will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.
For more information, please watch the “Day of Surgery” video.
You will be checked in and seen by your care team prior to going in for your surgery. This may include:
- Nurses
- Surgical Team
- Anesthesiologist
- Anesthesia Assistant
- Operating Room Attendant
- Healthcare Aide
- Front Desk Secretary
Please feel free to ask any questions to your healthcare team.
Postoperative Experience
- You will wake up in the post-anesthesia care unit, where you will be monitored by a nurse for a few hours.
- Your pain level will be assessed, and you will be given medication to make you more comfortable. If you feel uncomfortable or unwell in any way, please let the staff know.
- Your nurse will contact your family member when you are ready to go home.
- Your nurse will review post operative instructions with you prior to your discharge, this may include new prescriptions
- You will be required to leave the department in a wheelchair and with an escort to take you home.
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
For most procedures you will be asleep. An Anesthesiologist will speak with you before you go into surgery and discuss all your options. They will take great care of you during your surgery.
There are many factors that your healthcare team will consider before they can safely send you home, you may stay between 1-3 hours in recovery.
If you have received any type of sedation, you should not be operating any motor vehicle for 24 hours.
We will try our best to have your support person present after you have woken up from surgery.
Anesthesiologists are probably best known for putting you to sleep before surgery (known as general anesthesia). These medical doctors specialize in using medication to provide relief for postoperative (temporary) pain. Your anesthesiologist is also responsible for your welfare and comfort during and after surgery. In addition, some anesthesiologists are involved in the treatment of chronic pain (recurring) problems.
Your anesthesiologist will need to know if you have certain medical conditions (for example: drug allergies, diabetes, malignant hyperthermia, porphyria). This may be discussed with an anesthesiologist at your pre-admission clinic appointment.