This information is for adults preparing to undergo surgery with us.
What is a pre-assessment appointment and why do you need one?
Before your operation you will need to be seen in the pre-assessment department clinic.
Pre-assessment clinic is a nurse led clinic and plays an important part in the preparation for your surgery. It includes an assessment of your health and fitness before surgery by carrying out various tests and investigations. If you have more complex medical issues, you may be seen in a clinic led by an anaesthetic consultant.
A pre-operative assessment appointment can take up to 1 to 2 hours long.
Before your appointment
Please check your appointment letter to see what you need to do to prepare for your appointment.
Have a list of any current medications you are taking. Whether prescription, over the counter, herbal medications, homeopathic or traditional.
Your current contact details and your emergency contact details and telephone number, also if there is some one different collecting you after your surgery their name and contact details too.
A note pad with any comments or questions you may wish to ask or would like to write down.
It is important to inform us if you are taking Aspirin, Warfarin, Clopidogrel, or any other blood thinning tablets.
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible.
On the day of your appointment
The pre assessment nursing staff will perform your pre-assessment electronically which will involve taking, a full medical history, surgery history and any social history.
You will undergo routine observations such as: Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight for your BMI (body mass index).
You may be required to have further investigations such as an electrocardiogram (ECG). This is recording the rate, rhythm, and electrical activity of your heart. This is a simple test that takes about five minutes and does not cause any discomfort.
An MRSA swab maybe taken with your consent; this is to screen for MRSA bacteria that can cause infections. Any infections must be treated before your surgery.
Other tests include:
- Blood test
- Urine Test
- Pregnancy Test
- Spirometer test
- Echocardiogram
- Lung function test
- Sleep study test
These are tests will then support the decisions to whether you can proceed for your surgery, as they give us an overall picture off your current state of health.
You can eat and drink as normal on the day of your pre assessment and continue to take your normal medications.
Anaesthetic Assessment
Due to your current health state identified at your pre assessment you may be required to see a consultant anaesthetic doctor before your surgery. Such as high blood pressure uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled COPD, uncontrolled COPD or asthma, uncontrolled epilepsy.
The nurse who performs your pre assessment will discuss their findings with the anaesthetist if required. The anaesthetist may wish to review you in their clinic to ensure you are fit to proceed for an anaesthetic and discuss possible anaesthetic procedures and risks.
You may be required to attend further tests, that are needed. The anaesthetic doctor will refer you to the relevant hospital department or to your G.P.
Once all the investigations are completed you will be seen back in the clinic to discuss whether you are fit to proceed for your surgery and to ensure you are fully aware of the risks.
Every step of the way shared decision-making discussions are made with you and the team looking after you.
Different types of pre-assessments
Face to face
Where you will see a nurse in a nurse led pre assessment clinic within a healthcare environment. Please prepared to spend up to two hours at your appointment.
Telephone
If your appointment is by telephone, please make sure you are in an appropriate place for discussing your medical history.
Due to being unable to predict how long each call will take, the appointment may be up to 1 hour earlier or later than planned.
A nurse or healthcare assistant will call you, the call may appear with no caller ID.
It is possible the phone assessment will show that you may need to come into hospital for a routine test or a face-to-face assessment. If this happens, the nurse will arrange this for you during the phone call.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
Please tell us a soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your appointment so we can offer your appointment to another patient. Missed appointments cost the NHS millions of pounds.
This appointment is important preparation for your surgery. You must come to this appointment or let us know if you need to cancel or change it.
Your general health
Please contact the pre-assessment team if there are any changes in your general health status after being seen at your pre-assessment.
Call us if you start new medication, from your GP or a hospital specialist. We will need to tell you if it should be taken or stopped before your surgery. Also contact us if you are told that you have a new health problem by your GP or hospital specialist, even if it doesn’t require medication. If you have had a recent hospital stay or new referral to a specialist not previously discussed in your pre-assessment, please let us know.
Call us immediately on the numbers below to prevent cancellation on the day of surgery if you are unwell or have the following symptoms in the week before admission:
The Cancellation Avoidance Team will be calling you on seven days and two days prior to your surgery to ensure you are proceeding with your appointment, and there have been no changes to your circumstances which could lead to a cancellation. These include:
- Sore throat, cold, Flu like symptoms or chest infection
- Any infection diagnoses by a health professional.
- Any ulcers in the mouth or urgent dental works
- Feel feverish with a temperature above 37.5oC
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Infections or unpleasant smell or burning on passing urine
- Any areas on the skin with leg ulcers, blisters, lacerations, insert bits, cuts on or near the affected operation site, and any redness or suspicious lesions.
Contact details are available further down this page.
After your appointment
If we find that you have any medical problems that are identified, you may be required to visit your GP for treatment before proceeding.
If everything is satisfactory our nurses will explain the plan for the day of your surgery and answer any questions or queries that you may have.
Once your results are satisfactory you will be contacted by the service teams to arrange a date for your surgery. Once a date comes available or if a cancellation occurs you will be called.
Please do not call the service teams they will call you.
Fasting instructions
If your pre assessment nurse has instructed you not to eat (fast) before the operation, it is important that you do not eat or drink anything, this included light snacks, sweets, and water.
You will need an empty stomach during surgery, so you do not vomit while you are under anaesthetic.
Adult Fasting Guidelines – When and What You Are Allowed to Eat and Drink before Your OperationHygiene and infection control
Reduce your risk of infection by having a shower at home before your admission, use the hand cleaning facilities at every ward entrance and beside.
If provided, use your antiseptic body and nasal treatment at home for the 4 days before admission and the morning of admission at home. Please bring your treatment to continue as an inpatient.
You will need to remove all the body piercings, make up, nail polish and false nails before your operation.
What to pack for your hospital visit
If you are a day case:
You may wish to bring:
- Dressing gown
- Slippers
- Book or magazines
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Activity book
- Sanitary towels
You will be asked to fill out an indemnity disclosure if you bring and valuables and appliances into hospital.
If you are staying overnight, you may wish to pack:
- A nightdress or Pyjamas
- Day clothes
- Clean underwear
- Dressing gowns and slippers
- Toiletries – soap, toothbrush, shampoo, and deodorant
- Sanitary towels
- Razor and shaving materials
- Comb or hairbrush
- Book or magazines
- Medicines you normally take, and your GP prescription chart
- Glasses and contact lenses with a case
- Notepad and pen
- Small amount of money
Towels are provided by the ward staff, if you require one, please ask.
Contact us
Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital
Ward B4 03033 303696 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm)
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Ward 18 03033 305657 or 03033 303095 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm)
Goole & District Hospital
Ward 5 03033 304259 (Tuesday to Friday, 8am – 4pm)
