What will I need to bring to my appointment?
Please bring a copy of your current prescription. You can bring a relative/friend with you if you wish. If you require reading glasses, please bring them in with you.
Do you provide telephone appointments?
All patients are triaged at point of referal. Some patients will meet the criteria for a telephone assessment. Your letter for your appointment will state if it is a telephone appointment or appointment at the department. If you have any queries regarding this, please give us a call and we can discuss further.
Changing or cancelling your appointment.
If you are unable to attend your appointment please inform us as soon as possible. We will be happy to help re arrange your appointment where possible. If you wish to cancel your appointment as you no longer want to go ahead with your planned surgery please let perioperative assessment and your surgeons secretary know.
What is a cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET)?
This is a medical test that gives the anaesthetic doctors and surgeons information about your fitness and to see how your heart, lungs and muscles react to exercise. The test is performed on a stationary exercise bike that is connected to a computer. Please wear comfortable clothing and trainers if possible. You may also want to bring a bottle of water.
What happens after my appointment?
After your appointment we will follow up any investigations such as blood tests and swabs. We may also need to speak to members of the team involved in your care such as your surgeon or anaesthetist. Once we have all results and advice we will inform your surgeons secretary if you are able to proceed with surgery. If there is a problem with any of your results or if your surgery needs to be postponed, we will contact you.
Who will I see at my appointment?
- Receptionist – you will be checked in by one of our receptionists upon arrival to the department.
- Nurse – one of our nurses will go through your health questionnaire and assess your suitability for surgery.
- Health care assistant (HCA) – one of our HCA’s will carry out some of the necessary tests that are requested by the nurse following your assessment.
- Anaesthetist – You may be required to see one of our anaesthetist at your surgeons request. We aim to arrange this for the same day as your nurse appointment.
Sometimes an appointment will be made to see the anaesthetist on a separate day following your nurse assessment. The nurse who performs your assessment may discuss findings with an anaesthetist. The anaesthetist may then wish to see you in clinic to discuss your suitability for anaesthetic, the anaesthetic options available and the risks associated.