For those who dread the day they find themselves stretched out under the surgeon's scalpel, an open day at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital should alleviate some of those fears.

The Hospital's Post Anaesthesia Care Unit, which handles over 2,000 patients a year, is opening its doors to the today between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Members of the public will be escorted from the reception through the operating theatres to the post-operative areas, while staff members will explain surgical procedures.

The aim of the open house, said assistant co-ordinator of the unit Mrs. Diana Simons, was to take the stress out of surgery by showing potential patients equipment and surgical procedures.

"Surgery entails high levels of stress,'' she said. "Most post-operative complications arise because of anxiety. Often children are not anxious but their parents relay their anxiety to them.'' PACU senior staff nurse, Mrs. Jennifer Simons urged parents to bring their kids along to the open day.

"We encourage parents to bring their children,'' she said. "We like to have them as we have a lot as patients.'' At present the unit offers care for surgical patients from the time they enter the operating area to their first day of recovery at home.

Staff make follow-up calls inquiring how patients are sleeping, whether they are still in pain and whether they are satisfied with the care received. Mrs.

Simons stressed that the 13 staff on the unit are highly-trained professionals.

When a patient is anaesthetised, a member of staff is with them at all times in case of complications.

Open day visitors should ask directions to the PACU unit from the main hospital reception.