There are three main aims of the service:

1. To assess and optimise any pre-existing conditions in a timely manner allowing us to carry out planned treatment with a much-reduced risk to every patient.
2. To carry out all relevant tests and investigations prior to admission reducing delays and cancellation of treatment on the day of your admission.
3. To provide patients and visitors with both written and verbal information about the admission and anaesthetic, allowing time to answer any questions they may have. This allows you to plan for your discharge and recovery once at home.

Your pre-operative assessment involves the team completing a medical and surgical health questionnaire. This may be done as a telephone appointment with follow up hospital routine investigation appointment. Or a face-to-face appointment with questionnaire and investigations being done at the same time.

Please note that your appointment time could vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your individual requirements and appointment type.

You are welcome to bring a family member or trusted friend along to your appointment to support you if want to.

We work very closely with our anaesthetists who may, when necessary, refer you for further assessment and investigations as necessary.