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Pre-Assessment Prior to surgery

Before your procedure you will be invited to attend our pre-assessment (pre-op) clinic to ensure you are in good health for your upcoming procedure.  

Pre-assessment to check that you can have surgery

At the hospital's pre-assessment clinic, we do tests to check if it's ok for you to have surgery. This happens a number of weeks before your surgery is scheduled.

The pre-assessment surgery clinic plays an important role in preparation for your surgery. It includes an assessment of your general health and fitness for surgery by carrying out various tests and investigations. If you have more complex medical issues you may be seen in clinic by an anaesthetic consultant.

Before your pre-assessment appointment

  • If you have any questions or worries, please write them down and bring them with you so we can answer them.
  • We will have all your medical history already but please bring a list of all the medications that you currently take, in case they have changed since we last saw you. If you are unsure, please ask your Pharmacist to print this off for you. 
  • You can eat, drink and take your medications as normal on the day of your pre-assessment appointment.

Attending for your pre-assessment appointment

Our nursing staff will perform your pre-operative assessment and a doctor may speak to you regarding your anaesthetic.  The most common tests we do at this appointment are

  • Blood pressure / pulse / temperature / height and weight.
  • An electrocardiogram (ECG) may be needed which records the rate, rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. This is a simple test that takes about five minutes and does not cause any discomfort.
  • MRSA/CPE swabs will taken. This is to screen for  bacteria that can cause infections. Any infection must be treated before you can have surgery.
  • A physical examination, so you may need to partially undress and lie down on the examination couch. This examination will be performed by the nurse, who will listen to your heart and lungs.
  • You may need blood tests and an xray

After your pre-assessment appointment

  • If we find that any problems that we were unaware of, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, you will need to visit your GP for treatment. 
  • If further tests are required, the pre-assessment nurse will refer you to the relevant hospital department or to your GP.
  • If everything is satisfactory, our nurses will explain the plan for the day of your surgery and answer any questions or queries that you may have.​

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