Pre-operative assessment

The pre-operative assessment service is for adult patients who are booked in for an elective (planned) operation or procedure. Preparation and planning before your operation or procedure helps to ensure that you are fully informed about what will happen and how to manage your recovery and that you are in the best health before your admission.

Surgical specialities supported by our service includes:

• Breast Surgery
• General Surgery
• Gynaecology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Dental Surgery)
• Orthopaedics Vascular Surgery
• Plastics Surgery
• Urology

About your pre-operative assessment

After your outpatient appointment, once you have agreed to have a procedure, you will be asked to complete a Health Screening Questionnaire. This will usually be given to you during your outpatient appointment. Please complete it and return it to the Outpatient team.

If you are unable to complete the questionnaire during your appointment, you may receive a digital questionnaire on your mobile phone. To help you complete the questionnaire, we recommend having your height, weight and blood pressure ready.

The information you provide helps our triage nurse decide which type of pre-operative assessment is most suitable for your care. You will then either be booked for a telephone assessment, virtual assessment or invited to attend a face to face appointment with our Pre-operative Assessment team in person.

In-person appointments

If you need to attend in person, you will receive a letter and a text message confirming the date and time of your appointment. Pre-operative assessment clinics are held at Lister Hospital and New QEII Hospital.

During your appointment, our team will take time to get to know you and prepare you safely for your surgery. This video, presented by one of our registered nurses, explains what you can expect during your pre-operative assessment visit. If you are unable to attend the appointment offered, please contact our team as soon as possible, and at least 24 hours before your appointment, so we can rearrange it for you. Not attending your pre-operative assessment may delay your operation, and we are here to help you find a suitable appointment.

Where to find us?

Our pre-operative assessment clinics are run by our nursing teams at both the Lister Hospital and the New QEII Hospital:

• Lister Hospital: level 4 of the Treatment Centre
  Monday to Thursday, 8.15am to 5.15pm
  Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
  
• New QEII Hospital: blue zone on the first floor
  Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  For questions about your appointment at the New QEII, call 01707 247633

Consultant-led Perioperative Anaesthetic Clinic (CPAC)

The Consultant-led Perioperative Anaesthetic Clinic (CPAC) is a specialist clinic you may be asked to attend before your operation. You may be seen here if you have complex medical problems, are having major surgery, or have any concerns that need more time to discuss. The clinic is led by senior anaesthetic doctors (consultant anaesthetists). They will talk with you about your surgery and anaesthetic, as well as some of the risks. You will be given advice that is tailored to you. The aim is to make sure you are well prepared and as fit as possible for your operation, to help keep you safe.