Your privacy, protected: care for women, with modesty

Many women delay surgery because of one worry they find hard to say out loud: who will see me, and who will be in the room? This page answers that worry directly — what your rights are, what happens in our clinic and theatre, and what you can ask for. Asking costs nothing and changes nothing about your care except your comfort.

Will a female nurse be present?

Yes. You can have a female nurse or chaperone present during any examination, and you do not need a reason. In Saudi hospitals this is your right as a patient, not a favour. If it would make you more comfortable, you may also ask that examinations be done by, or in the presence of, female staff wherever the team allows.

Who examines me, and how?

Only the area that needs examining is uncovered, only for as long as the examination takes, and the rest of you stays covered. Examinations happen in a private room with the door closed, never in front of other patients or visitors. You may keep a companion — your husband, mother, sister, or a friend — with you during consultations.

What happens to my hijab on the day of surgery?

You keep your hijab through admission and preparation. It is removed only inside the operating theatre, where it must come off for safe anaesthesia and monitoring; your hair is then covered with a surgical cap, and female staff handle this part wherever possible. Your hijab is returned to you in recovery as soon as you are awake enough to want it. On the ward, you dress and cover exactly as you would at home.

Can my family stay close?

A companion can stay with you in clinic, before surgery, and in your room afterwards within visiting rules. Many women ask a female relative to be the person who helps with washing, dressing, and walking in the first days — tell us, and we plan around it.

How do I ask for something I am shy to say?

Write it down and hand it to the nurse, or send it on WhatsApp before your visit — many patients do exactly this. Nothing you ask about privacy will surprise us, and nothing about it will ever be repeated outside your care team. Your medical details stay between you and your treating team.

If modesty has been the reason you have been putting off an operation you need, message us and say so in your own words. We will explain, before you commit to anything, exactly how your privacy will be protected at every step.