This is an assessment of your general health and fitness. You will be seen in clinic or called on your phone by one of our pre-operative nurses, you will know in advance whether to attend the department or wait for a phone call.
The nurse will ask you about your medical history, medication that you take, previous surgery, any complications.
They will arrange any tests that you may need before surgery.
If you have a more complex medical history, you may need to be seen in clinic by a consultant anaesthetist.
Why do I need to have a pre-op assessment appointment?
It is important that we know as much as possible about your general health before you have an anaesthetic to help us prepare you safely for this.
We can identify any risks for you during the perioperative period and consider ways that we can reduce the risk.
This will not apply to all patients, it depends upon your operation and any underlying health conditions.
There are three different types of pre-op assessment:
- self-assessment questionnaire (low risk operations for people with no underlying health conditions)
- nurse led pre assessment: this will either be face to face or a telephone consultation
- anaesthetist high risk clinic: in addition to a nurse appointment, this will be either face to face or a telephone consultation
For some health conditions we may refer you on to see another specialist if we think that this will make your perioperative care safer. This can sometimes include a pharmacist to review your medications.
Types of pre-operative assessment clinics
Your appointment with the pre-op assessment nurse will be approximately 45 minutes long, or longer depending on the information you give. If you are also having an anaesthetic review please allow two hours for your appointment.
Telephone assessment
You will be asked questions to identify yourself, if you have any allergies and what medication you take before the nurse completes the Health Screen Questionnaire with you.
If necessary, the nurse will make an appointment for you to attend the hospital for further tests ie blood pressure, height and weight, blood test, ECG (a tracing of your heart) or MRSA swabs
Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not attend for these.
Face-to-face assessment
At Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) you can use the electronic system to check in or the receptionist.
At Solihull Hospital you will be greeted by a clinic co-ordinator. You will then be asked to sit in the waiting room until a member of staff is ready for you.
A health care assistant will call you in, ask you questions to identify yourself and ask your consent to take your observations and other tests relevant your surgery. These include ECG, a urine test, smokescreen, MRSA swabs, swabs of any wounds or broken skin
A nurse will call you in where you will be again asked to identify yourself and with your consent they will complete the health screening questionnaire with you, discuss your discharge and provide you with the information you need to come in on the day of surgery including any medication that you may need to stop and smoking cessation, lifestyle choices as required.
The nurse will provide you with any dietary advice and bowel preparation medicines that you may need.
If needed you will return to the health care assistant for an ECG or bloods (you may be asked to attend outpatients for both of these tests)
Anaesthetic assessment
An anaesthetist is a specialist consultant doctor who will remain responsible for you during your operation. For more information on the extensive role of the anaesthetist, please read the following link.
On the day of your operation, they will administer the anaesthetic drug, monitor your vital organs, blood pressure and oxygen levels treating any changes to these if necessary.
Your surgeon will decide as to whether you will need to see an anaesthetist at your pre-op assessment. This decision is based on the type of surgery you are having
Please see our other section for more information regarding anaesthetics.
Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not attend this clinic.
Investigations clinic
If you have had a telephone assessment and asked to come back for investigations you will be greeted as per the face to face assessment and asked to wait in the waiting area.
A health care assistant will ask you questions to identify yourself, explain what tests they are going to do eg blood pressure, height, weight, ECG, bloods, MRSA swabs
After gaining your consent they will carry out the tests needed for your surgery and if you have an ECG you will be asked to wait while this is reviewed by a qualified nurse before being allowed to leave.
Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not attend.
What tests will I need before my operation?
The investigations you may need will depend on a number of factors, such as age, co-morbidities and the nature of the procedure. This will all be discussed in full detail with you at your appointment.
Examples of some tests you may need:
- blood test
- MRSA swabs
- ECG – a tracing of your heart
Some patients will need further investigations taken based upon the operation that they are having, or underlying health conditions. Examples include:
- X-rays, CT or MRI scans
- echocardiograms: an ultrasound assessment of the heart
- lung function tests: how well your lungs are working, measured by the volume of air you can breathe in and out
- cardio-Pulmonary Exercise testing: we get you to exercise on a pedal or handlebar bike while measuring your heart rate, blood pressure and carbon dioxide levels you breathe out. This gives us an idea of how well your heart and lungs are working under stress. This will help us to plan whether you need high dependency or intensive care after your operation.
- depending on your surgery, you may see a physiotherapist to carry out some exercises with you.
Last reviewed: 15 September 2023