Preoperative Assessment

The preoperative assessment clinic is designed to help you prepare for your upcoming surgery and assist the hospital in planning your care. It is crucial that you attend your preoperative assessment appointment, as failure to do so may result in your surgery being delayed.

During the appointment, we will assess your overall health and fitness through various tests and investigations.

These assessments are conducted at a nurse-led clinic, and appointments can be either by phone or in person. In some cases, you may be asked to complete a questionnaire about your health conditions before your appointment, which may eliminate the need for an in-person visit.

If you have more complex medical conditions, you may be referred to a clinic led by an anaesthetic consultant.

Before your appointment:

• Please complete the preoperative assessment questionnaire, if requested.
• Have details of your medications ready, including the name, dosage, and the time of day you take each medication, whether your appointment is by phone or in person.
• If you have any specific needs, such as requiring an interpreter, please inform us at 0208 266 6909

During your appointment:

We will ask you questions about your past and current health, including:

• Previous surgeries
• Medications you are taking.
• Details of any specialist medical teams involved in your care.

Following this, you may be asked to attend a preoperative appointment with a healthcare assistant for general tests. These tests may include:

• Checking your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, and weight
• An electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the rate, rhythm, and electrical activity of your heart. This is a simple test that takes about 5 minutes and is painless.
• A peak flow test to measure the volume and speed of air you can exhale, which provides an indication of lung capacity and airway clarity.
• A urine sample to check for any urinary infections
• A swab to check for MRSA bacteria, which can cause infections; any infection will need to be treated before surgery.
• Blood tests as required

If you have more complex medical conditions, you may be referred to a clinic led by an anaesthetic consultant, typically on a later date. You may also need additional tests, such as an echocardiogram, sleep studies, or lung function studies. We will inform you if any of these tests are necessary.

After these tests, we will inform you if any abnormal results are observed or if further tests or specialist appointments are required. If you do not hear from our team within 7 working days, you can assume that you have been cleared for general anaesthesia.

What happens after Pre-op assessment?  

Preparing for surgery involves considering your routines, activities, eating habits, and overall lifestyle, and making adjustments to improve your health and wellbeing, which can enhance your recovery. This process is known as prehabilitation.

We offer prehabilitation clinics called Surgery School, where anaesthetic consultants, dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists work together to help patients prepare for the best possible surgical outcome. If you would like to attend this clinic in person or virtually, please contact us by phone at 0208 266 6921 or email us at surgeryschool@stgeorges.nhs.uk

Eating a balanced diet and working towards a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) is always helpful to minimise complications during and after surgery.

Days before your planned surgery , we recommend that you  revisit the information Your guide to surgery at St George’s that has been given to you or sent via email after your pre-op assessment  regarding any medications that need to be stopped before surgery and fasting instructions.

Important information given to you during preoperative assessment consultation

• Information about your anaesthesia, risk and pain relief
• Fasting time before the surgery
• Any specific medication instruction before the surgery

In addition to our ‘Your Guide to Surgery’ booklet, the following information leaflets are helpful regarding your anaesthesia:

• Frequently asked questions about anaesthesia, produced by Royal College of Anaesthetists
• Collection of patient information leaflets and videos prepared by the Royal College of Anaesthetists
• Resources explaining the importance of preparing well for surgery 
• Explaining the risks of anaesthesia, from the Royal College of Anaesthetists 
• To learn more about Post-operative delirium, cognitive dysfunction and other peri-operative brain health topics, from the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA).

We also have information specific to St George’s patients on the hospital’s patient information pages.

You can also find the most popular patient information leaflets translated in the 20 most common languages used in the UK.

https://rcoa.ac.uk/patient-information/patient-information-resources/translations

Preparing for surgery

Preparing for surgery involves considering your routines, activities, eating habits, and overall lifestyle, and making adjustments to improve your health and wellbeing, which can enhance your recovery. This process is known as prehabilitation.

We offer prehabilitation clinics called Surgery School, where anaesthetic consultants, dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists work together to help patients prepare for the best possible surgical outcome.

If you would like to attend this clinic in person or virtually, please contact us by phone at 0208 266 6921 or email us at surgeryschool@stgeorges.nhs.uk