Pre-Operative Assessment

Our pre-operative assessment (POA) team consists of health care assistants, peri-operative coordinators, administrative support staff, registered nurses and consultant anaesthetists. 

• Matron for POA – Roz Veitch 
• Senior POA Sister – Karen Poulton 
• Principal POA Pharmacist – Anjna Patel 
• Paediatric POA Clinical Lead – Dr Ben Clevenger 
• Adult POA Clinical Lead – Dr Prasan Panagoda 

If you have been given a date for your surgery this is provisional pending the outcome of your POA assessment. If you are deemed fit after your assessment you will then proceed to your planned admission date. 

Following new NHS guidance, patients are also seen without surgical dates. Again, once deemed fit by POA the surgical scheduling department will contact you regarding a date for your planned procedure. 

The POA clinic will: 

• Make sure you are medically fit for you operation / procedure 

• Provide advice on how to optimise your conditions prior to surgery 

• Carry out the relevant tests required before your operation / procedure  

• Provide information both verbally and written regarding your admission to hospital  

• Give guidance regarding your medicines management around your procedure 

• Refer you to other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure any special requirements / reasonable adjustments are planned ahead of your admission. 

During your surgical outpatients appointment you should have been asked to complete a health screening questionnaire. This questionnaire assists the pre- assessment team in determining the type of assessment you will require prior to your admission to hospital. The majority of assessments are initially carried out over the telephone by a nurse. This appointment can take up to an hour to complete. A conversation regarding your past medical, surgical and medication history will take place. Following this assessment, you may be required to attend the POA department for further investigations which may include: 

• Blood tests 

• Heart tracing (ECG) 

• Xray 

• Spirometry  

• MRSA swabs 

During the telephone assessment it would be good to have available: 

• a recent copy of your prescription 

• dates of your last clinic appointments with any other specialties that you are under and their contact details. 

Children requiring a face-to-face assessment by a POA nurse or anaesthetist will be seen in our dedicated CYP OPD department. 

Some patients may be required to see an anaesthetist for their POA. This could be due to the type of surgery required or to discuss individual needs highlighted during the screening process. This appointment is usually a face-to-face appointment and takes place in the pre- assessment department located at the Stanmore site. The  anaesthetist  will assess your overall health to identify any medical conditions that could affect the anaesthetic or surgery. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the anaesthetic technique. Any potential risks identified will be discussed during this appointment and information provided. You may want to bring a long a relative or carer for support.  

It is important to bring with you: 

• a recent copy of your prescription 

• any clinic letters you have for other specialities that you may be under e.g cardiology / respiratory. 

• a list of questions you may have. 

Improving your general health is very important while you are waiting for your surgery. Please view the following websites  for suggestions on how best you can achieve this.  

Preparing for surgery | The Royal College of Anaesthetists (rcoa.ac.uk) 

Preoperative optimisation: Top seven interventions | Centre for Perioperative Care (cpoc.org.uk) 

Prepwell 

For anaesthetic appointments 

Email:  rnoh.poaconsultantsecretaries@nhs.net  or call 020 8909 5252 

For any other POA appointments  

Email: rnoh.POAadmin@nhs.net  or call 020 8909 5630 

When Will I be given a date for my surgery?  

A date for your surgery will be given once POA has deemed you fit to proceed 

Who gives me a date for my surgery? 

Your surgical consultant’s scheduler gives you the date for your procedure / operation. Please do not contact POA for this date 

How long will my surgery take? 

This depends on the type of surgery required. A member of the surgical team will be able to provide you with this information 

What do I need to bring when I come into hospital? 

• One month’s supply of any medications you are taking in their original containers. If you are taking medicines via special compliance aids   (such as a Dosett™ or Nomad™ boxes), you may not be able to use   these in hospital. Please contact the Pharmacy Department on 020 8909 5832 for advice at least four weeks before your admission date 

• Nightdress or pyjamas (front fastening is advisable for upper limb surgery) 

• Dressing gown and sturdy slippers, which have a back (also for day   case admissions) 

• Hairbrush/comb 

• Washing kit, including toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, flannel and towels 

• Shaving items (if applicable) 

• Glasses/hearing aid 

• Dentures 

• Wet wipes and tissues 

• Day clothes, including comfortable shoes 

• Underwear 

• Something to occupy your time, for example, books, magazines, writing paper (and stamps) 

• Mobile phone – you are permitted to use your mobile phone providing you adhere to our code of conduct, which requires you to ensure the privacy and dignity of other patients and staff. Headphones to listen to hospital radio or other audio. (Radio Brockley can be accessed through the Trust’s free Wi-Fi service for patients and visitors) 

• Please bring a card for the hospital trolly shop 

• Small specialist equipment that you use at home, for example, adapted crockery/cutlery or dressing aids 

• Snacks, for example, crisps, biscuits, fruit, bottled squash or cartons of juice 

Please do not bring in: 

• Any high risk foods such as cooked meat and poultry products, including paté, meat pies, and products made with fresh cream, custard, milk, dairy produce or items with raw or partially cooked egg 

• Any items that require preparation, cooking or refrigeration. Our ward kitchens support the delivery of patients’ meals but are not equipped to prepare or cook meals 

• Alcohol, as it is not permitted within the hospital buildings or grounds 

You can contact the POA department or alternatively the Infection prevention and control team between 8am – 4pm Monday – Friday. 

Pre-operative Assessment Department: 020  909 5630 

Infection Prevention and Control Team: 020 8909 5625 

Email: rnoh.infectioncontroldept@nhs.net 

You will be admitted on the day of your procedure, unless you meet certain criteria. You may wish to stay at a local hotel to make it easier to reach the hospital on the morning of your admission. There are a number of hotels, offering different facilities. 

If you are required to stay overnight then the aim will be to discharge you by 11am when you have been deemed fit for discharge “Home for brunch”  

Side rooms will be prioritised for clinical requirement 

Only one parent can transfer the patient to theatre and recovery. 

Hospital Passport template

My Health Passport: for autistic people

This is me: This leaflet will help you support me in an unfamiliar place

The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is an opportunity for people who use NHS services to provide real time feedback on their experiences anonymously and supports the fundamental principle that people who use NHS services should have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience.

Listening to the views of patients and staff helps identify what is working well, what can be improved and how.

The question invites feedback on the overall experience you have had of using the service. When combined with supplementary follow-up questions, the FFT provides a mechanism to highlight both good and poor patient experience. This kind of feedback is vital in transforming NHS services and supporting patient choice.

This short film explains what the FFT is in a simple way 

Click here to complete the inpatient FFT form

Click here to complete the outpatient FFT form

For more information on the Friends and Family Test

Patient information guides

Adult information:

Anaesthesia and risk | The Royal College of Anaesthetists (rcoa.ac.uk) 

Patient Information Leaflets | Centre for Perioperative Care (cpoc.org.uk)

Ready, Steady, Recover: 10 things you can do before surgery | The Royal College of Anaesthetists (rcoa.ac.uk)

Anaesthesia explained (video)

Paediatric info:

Information for children, parents and carers | The Royal College of Anaesthetists (rcoa.ac.uk)

A Little Deep Sleep - YouTube video

Non weight bearing and ongoing care:

Your surgery may result in a period of non-weight bearing (NWB). This means that you will not be able to use or put weight through your operated limb.

During this period, you may require some additional support/care at home to manage your daily living activities such as washing and dressing, housework and cooking. You may, however, be unable to support yourself at home and require admission to a placement where you will be looked after during this non-weight bearing period.

Due to changes in the government budgets, some areas do not provide aftercare for patients who need care/support whilst they are non-weight bearing. This letter is to inform you that a financial assessment maybe carried out that could result in you contributing towards payment of care.

RNOH has a complex discharge nursing team and social work team who are available to talk this process through or answer any questions. Their contact details are as below:

Complex discharge nursing team

0203 947 0169

rnoh.complexdischargenurses@nhs.net

RNOH adult social work team

0208 909 5538

rnoh.SocialWorkAdult@nhs.net

We advise that you make contact with us prior to your admission This will allow us time to make contact with your area and find out what care packages are available for you.

Many thanks and we look forward to meeting you soon.