Pre-operative assessment

Overview

We'll assess your general health and fitness by carrying out tests and investigations.

This pre-operative assessment is done at a nurse-led clinic. If you have more complex medical conditions you may be seen in a clinic led by an anaesthetic consultant.

Before your appointment

Please complete the online pre-operative assessment questionnaire on MyChart. This questionnaire asks about:

• your past and present health
• previous operations
• medicines you take
• your lifestyle

We'll contact you to book a pre-operative assessment appointment after you've completed the form.

If you would like someone to support you during the appointment, ask us for a chaperone. A chaperone is a specially trained member of staff who helps make sure your privacy and dignity are respected.

During your appointment

A nursing assistant, nurse or anaesthetist will check your general health and fitness. This could include:

• checking your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight and neck measurement
• a physical examination to listen to your heart and lungs – if needed, we might ask you to partially undress and lie down
• an electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the rate, rhythm and electrical activity of your heart – we'll ask you to take off your top and lie down for this
• a spirometry test to measure the volume and speed of the air you can blow out from your lungs – if you need this test, you might need to go to another department in the hospital
• a urine sample to check for any urine infection
• a swab to check for MRSA bacteria that can cause infections
• a blood test to check if you have low haemoglobin, low iron levels or low vitamin B12 or folate levels

After the first assessment, we may need to carry out further tests including:

• blood tests
• X-rays
• an echocardiogram or other cardiac tests

After your appointment

Your pre-operative nurse will contact you to let you know the results of your assessment and if you need any more tests or treatment.

For example, if you have low haemoglobin and low iron levels, we'll refer you to our hospital's anaemia clinic. The anaemia clinic will recommend treatment to increase your iron levels so you can have surgery safely.