Preoperative assessment is an opportunity for the nursing/medical staff to identify any existing medical conditions or illnesses you may have that may lead to complications during surgery and or after surgery.
Preoperative assessment: What to expect
Before your surgery, you will be invited to attend a preoperative assessment. This is an important step to make sure you're ready for your procedure and to help ensure everything goes smoothly on the day. Ahed of this, you may be sent a link to complete an initial screening questionnaire by text or email, depending on what surgery you are having.
What is a preoperative assessment?
A preoperative assessment is a health check carried out before your operation. It helps us:
- Understand your general health and any existing medical conditions
- Minimise risks during and after surgery
- Plan the best care for you.
This assessment is tailored to your needs and the type of surgery you're having.
What does it involve?
Your assessment may include:
- A review of your medical history
- A discussion about any medications you're taking
- Blood pressure, pulse, and breathing checks
- Blood tests, ECG (heart tracing), or other investigations if needed
- Advice about preparing for surgery, including fasting, medication changes, and smoking cessation.
You may be seen in person or have a phone call.
How to prepare
It is important that any current medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are well controlled before planned surgery – please discuss with your GP if this may not be the case.
- Bring a list of all the medicines you take (including over-the-counter and herbal remedies)
- Bring any relevant medical letters or documents
- Be ready to discuss your general health and any previous operations.
Focusing on eating healthily, maintaining activity and exercise if possible, and stopping smoking are important things to do to prepare for an operation.
After your assessment
If everything is fine, you’ll be cleared for surgery. If we need more tests or specialist advice, we’ll arrange this before your operation date. Some patients may have additional support from the anaemia nursing team, Prehabilitation team or POPS team (Perioeperative care of Older People having Surgery).
Why it matters
Good preparation helps reduce the risk of complications and can lead to a quicker recovery.
More information
Your GP will refer you to a consultant surgeon: dependent upon the type of referral you can expect to be seen as follows:
Two-week rule - meaning you will be seen within 14 working days. This type of referral is classed as urgent.
18-week referral to treatment
Routine/non urgent conditions, you have the right to begin your treatment within 18 weeks from receipt of your GP referral.
Once a decision to operate has been agreed with your consultant surgeon, a request for your pre-op assessment will be made via the consultant’s secretary to the pre-op department.
Once this request has been received an appointment will be arranged and a letter sent out informing you of the time and date. You will also receive a text message. In the event of a cancellation, you may just receive the text message.
If the consultant feels your surgery is urgent, it will be prioritised and a date within one to two weeks will be arranged, or you may receive a call to attend pre-op assessment if an appointment is available sooner.
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Aintree University Hospital
Address: Aintree University Hospital
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
Liverpool
L9 7ALFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Aintree University Hospital
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Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Address: Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L7 8XPFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Royal Liverpool University Hospital
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Broadgreen Hospital
Address: Broadgreen Hospital
Thomas Drive
Liverpool
L14 3LBFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Broadgreen Hospital
Additional location information
Aintree University Hospitals Preoperative Assessment Unit is in its own single storey building, situated behind the main hospital, next to the Elective Care Centre.
Royal Liverpool University Hospitals Preoperative Assessment Unit is in Outpatients on the Ground Floor.
Broadgreen Hospital's Preoperative Assessment Unit is on the Ground Floor on the corridor behind the main entrance.
As we cover many specialities, please do not hesitate to ask to ask the nursing team if any support groups exist for your personal type of surgery. We will always be happy to help.
Websites
You may have the opportunity to complete a medical questionnaire which will help colleagues better understand if you need to attend in person for a one-to-one consultation, and or further investigations.
In some circumstances for routine operations, you may be able complete the form and home, which may be sufficient once reviewed by a qualified member of the team.