Pre-Operative (Pre-Op) Assessment is where fitness for surgery and anaesthesia is assessed. This involves a Nurse asking about health and fitness, previous surgeries, hospital admissions and medications taken. This can be performed over the telephone or in a clinic. It also involves recording observations such as height, weight & blood pressure and performing tests such as MRSA swabs or blood tests by a senior support worker.
The appointment provides the opportunity to ask any questions about admission to hospital and allows us to give information in relation to surgery, anaesthesia, post-operative pain relief and admission/ discharge from hospital.
The clinic sees patients awaiting Orthopaedic or ENT surgery under General or Regional Anaesthesia.
A regular Anaesthetic Assessment clinic is held for review of complex patients
A COVID-19 swabbing clinic is held daily ,
Onward referrals are made as required for Iron infusions, Echocardiograms and Spirometry testing.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are aiming to carry out as much of the assessment as we can over the phone, reducing the amount of time spent in the department.
Not all patients are able to have their assessment over the phone; therefore some patients will be invited to attend the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic for the full assessment. This will be indicated on the appointment letter. Following the telephone assessment, an appointment will be made to attend clinic for tests which will include:
• Height and weight measurements.
• Blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels.
• MRSA swabbing.
• Additional tests such as blood tests and/ or an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Friends and relatives are not permitted to interpret for patients. Therefore, a sign language or language interpreter will be arranged for the appointment.
All medications currently taken or an up to date prescription must be available at the appointment. This includes any tablets, inhalers, liquids, eye drops, over the counter or herbal medications, the contraceptive pill or any contraceptive implants. Some medications interfere with anaesthetics and surgery so they may need to be stopped before admission. The Pre-op nurse will provide written medication instructions. It is important to follow these instructions. After surgery, advice will be given when to recommence any routine medications.
Other things to bring include:
Peak flow machine, a medical alert card, medical implant information e.g. pacemaker or an Advance Directive (if you are a Jehovah’s Witness).
A list of any allergies you might have to foods, medicines, metals, latex.
A list of questions you might want to ask.
Any medical correspondence you may have about your medical history or previous surgeries.