Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre (CASIC)

Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre (CASIC)

Planned surgical unit, including an Elective Surgical Assessment Unit (ESAU) and Shalford Ward for patients staying overnight.

CASIC (Image)

The outside of our Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre, showing the main entrance to the building which is cladded in red/brown cladding.

About CASIC

CASIC is a dedicated building for patients undergoing planned surgery. The unit provides:

  • Joined-up care throughout the procedure - from surgical preparation through to our post-surgery recovery beds for day patients and inpatient wards for patients staying overnight.
  • Planned surgeries run between 7.30am and 8pm - your appointment letter will tell you when to arrive.
  • An inpatient ward, Shalford Ward, with 24 beds where patients can stay for up to 48 hours after their surgery.

What to expect as a patient at CASIC

Patient drop-off arrangements for the day of your surgery

  • Due to the high volume of patients attending CASIC for planned surgery, patients must be dropped off by a relative or friend.
  • Please note: relatives and friends will not be permitted to accompany patients beyond the reception area.
  • If a patient has any special requirements or need additional support, this must be discussed and communicated during the pre-assessment appointment to enable appropriate arrangements to be made.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Before your surgery

  • If you are coming in for a planned procedure at CASIC, your appointment letter will tell you when to arrive and how to prepare, for example, if you need to fast before arriving.
  • When you arrive, check in using the check-in kiosk or report to the reception desk. Take a seat in the reception area to wait to be called by the team in the Elective Surgical Assessment Unit (ESAU) Admissions, who will assess you and prepare you for your procedure.

After your surgery

  • Day patients can recover in the post-surgery recovery room before being collected by friends, family or carers.
  • Patients needing more recovery time will be transferred to one of our surgical recovery wards. This could be Shalford Ward in our CASIC building or one of our surgical wards in the main Royal Surrey hospital building.
  • Your care team will give you all the information you need to support your recovery, including a patient information leaflet for your surgery.

Your appointment letter will provide more details about what to expect on the day.

Please be aware that CASIC is not the same as our Day Surgery Unit. Patients are asked to check their appointment letter carefully to make sure they arrive at the right location.

Your care team

Your dedicated care team works together to provide compassionate, safe care. The care team includes specialist surgeons, resident doctors, anaesthetists, specialist nurses and healthcare assistants. 

Learn more about our ward teams and their roles. 

Visiting/escort information

Day patients

  • We are only able to accommodate visitors and escorts under exceptional circumstances. 
  • If you need a carer or someone close to you to support you on the day, please speak to your care team during the pre-assessment appointment.
  • If you have additional support needs, please speak with your care team during the pre-assessment appointment. 

Overnight patients on Shalford Ward

  • Visiting hours: 12-8pm daily.
  • Up to two visitors per patient at any one time.
  • Children under 12 years old are not allowed to visit adult wards, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
  • When you arrive, please check in with a member of ward staff before visiting your loved one.
  • Read and follow our infection control guidelines (see below).

Help keep our patients safe and well

Please don’t visit if you have:

  • Any signs of infection.
  • Had diarrhoea, vomiting or symptoms of flu in the last 48 hours.

While visiting a patient, please:

  • Do not bring flowers.
  • Use the public toilets on Levels A and B. Ward toilets are for patients only.
  • Don’t eat at bedsides.
  • Do not touch a patient’s wounds bandages/dressings or medical equipment.

Before you visit, please read and follow our infection control information guidelines, which help protect our patients from germs.

Getting to the Elective Surgical Assessment Unit (ESAU) in the CASIC (Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre) building

CASIC is located at the rear of the hospital, accessed from Egerton Road.

Digital navigation

Dropping off and parking

We advise arranging for a responsible adult to drop you off and collect you on the day of your procedure.

  • There is a dedicated CASIC building drop-off zone to the left of the main CASIC entrance (as you face the building).
  • Friends and family can park here briefly while they help you check in.
  • If your stay in the drop-off zone is likely to exceed 20 minutes, you must register your car to avoid a parking fine. Our car park uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). You can register your car on the parking registration station in the CASIC reception area.

Driving directions

  1. Turn into the hospital site from Egerton Road at the mini-roundabout.
  2. Follow the road as it bears right.
  3. The CASIC main entrance is immediately on your right.
  4. For the drop-off zone, take the first turning on the right.

Walking directions from Egerton Road

  1. Enter the Royal Surrey site from Egerton Road at the mini-roundabout.
  2. Continue straight ahead, staying on the pavement and passing the side of the CASIC building.
  3. Follow the road as it bears right.
  4. The CASIC main entrance is immediately on your right.

Getting to Royal Surrey

For information about getting to our site, visit the Getting to Royal Surrey County Hospital page.

Questions or concerns

First point of contact: Speak to the ward nurse in charge – we want patients to feel informed and comfortable during their stay.

If you still have questions: Ask to speak with the ward matron.

Concerned about a change or deterioration in a patient’s condition? Alongside speaking to ward staff, you can also contact the Critical Care Outreach Team through Call 4 Concern.

Complaints and support: Contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for confidential, impartial advice and support.