You will have a preoperative assessment if you are due to come for surgery and are going to have:
You will not be required to have a preoperative assessment if you are only going to have a local anaesthetic (similar to the injections given by a dentist to numb a small area) unless sedation (drugs to make you relaxed and sleepy) is going to be given as well.
Why do we ask you to have a preoperative assessment?
It helps us learn about your medical history, your general health, any medicines you are taking and any previous experience with anaesthetics.
What happens at the assessment?
You will have an individual consultation with a specialist nurse who will talk through your medical history with you, arrange any tests that you need before surgery and give you information about preparing for your anaesthetic as well as certain aspects of your surgery and recovery period.
How long does it take?
Our appointments are booked for 45 minutes but it can vary with each patient. There will be extra time needed for blood tests and maybe heart and breathing tests. Please allow for up to 2 hours in the hospital.
Why can't I have all this done on the day I come for surgery?
Our job is to help you prepare safely for your operation as well as identify any particular risks for you in having an anaesthetic. The anaesthetist looking after you on the day of your surgery needs to know as much as possible about you in order to keep you as safe as possible. If this information isn't available, the anaesthetist will not able to go ahead and your surgery would almost certainly have to be cancelled.
Why can't you give me a date for my surgery?
The pre-operative assessment team deals with getting you ready for an anaesthetic. The operation bookings are organised by the Consultant and his/her team. We can give you contact numbers for them.
What do I need to bring with me?
We need a up to date copy of your prescriptions.
We need a water sample in a sterile container. This can be done when you arrive at the department and we will provide a suitable container.
If you cannot attend your appointment...
Every month patients fail to attend for their preoperative assessment appointments. Not only does this delay them, it makes other patients wait longer.
So when you receive a date and you cannot attend or have changed your mind about having surgery, please let us know by call ing 0151 600 1927. Your preoperative assessment appointment can always be rearranged or cancelled and given to someone else.
A Pre-Operative Assessment is where you go to the hospital for a check up and a meeting before you go in for the operation.
This page gives you information about:
It helps us learn about your medical history, your general health, any medicines you are taking and any previous experience with anaesthetics.
What happens at the assessment?
You will have an individual consultation with a specialist nurse who will talk through your medical history with you, arrange any tests that you need before surgery and give you information about preparing for your anaesthetic as well as certain aspects of your surgery and recovery period.
How long does it take?
Our appointments are booked for 45 minutes but it can vary with each patient. There will be extra time needed for blood tests and maybe heart and breathing tests. Please allow for up to 2 hours in the hospital.
Why can't I have all this done on the day I come for surgery?
Our job is to help you prepare safely for your operation as well as identify any particular risks for you in having an anaesthetic. The anaesthetist looking after you on the day of your surgery needs to know as much as possible about you in order to keep you as safe as possible. If this information isn't available, the anaesthetist will not able to go ahead and your surgery would almost certainly have to be cancelled.
Why can't you give me a date for my surgery?
The pre-operative assessment team deals with getting you ready for an anaesthetic. The operation bookings are organised by the Consultant and his/her team. We can give you contact numbers for them.
What do I need to bring with me?
We need a up to date copy of your prescriptions.
We need a water sample in a sterile container. This can be done when you arrive at the department and we will provide a suitable container.
If you cannot attend your appointment...
Every month patients fail to attend for their preoperative assessment appointments. Not only does this delay them, it makes other patients wait longer.
So when you receive a date and you cannot attend or have changed your mind about having surgery, please let us know by call ing 0151 600 1927. Your preoperative assessment appointment can always be rearranged or cancelled and given to someone else.