Attending perioperative medicine

The perioperative clinic is a nurse led clinic whereby your fitness for surgery can be assessed.

We will ask you to complete a synopsis health questionnaire that will help us to understand your medical and surgical history, current medications and any previous medical issues.

We work closely with anaesthetist, surgeons, secretaries, specialist nurses and the manager of the surgical admissions unit to ensure that your surgical journey is as smooth as possible.

In most cases we will need to perform some tests and investigations so that we can ensure everything is done to optimise you for your operation.

Tests may include:

• Blood pressure – Blood pressure machines vary, but they’re all a type of measuring device, which often have an arm cuff attached to it. The cuff is usually wrapped around your upper arm and filled with air until it feels tight. This can feel uncomfortable, but it only lasts a few seconds. It’s important to relax and not talk during this time, because this is when your blood pressure is measured. If a healthcare professional is doing this for you, they may also use a stethoscope to record your blood pressure. An automatic device usually picks up the measurements from sensors in the arm cuff, which are sent to a digital display. You should get the results straight away.
• Pulse and Oxygen saturations – A pulse oximetry reading reflects the percentage of oxygen saturation in your blood. Pulse oximetry does not involve a needle. Instead, the test uses a sensor to read wavelengths reflected from the blood. The probe is attached to your finger, earlobe, or another place on the body. A pulse oximeter can give results on a screen in just a few seconds.
• Height and weight – You will be asked to remove your shoes, stand straight and let your back slightly touch the rod a member of staff will pull down the plate to the top of your head and check the measuring result.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – This painless test is to measure the electrical activity of your heart and to detect abnormal heart rhythms. Not all patients require this test. Plasters are used to fix monitoring leads across your chest and limbs. The results are recorded on a piece of paper and the procedure takes approximately five minutes.
• Blood sample – A blood test usually involves taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. A tight band (tourniquet) is usually put around your upper arm. This squeezes the arm, temporarily slowing down the flow of blood and causing the vein to swell. This makes it easier for a sample to be taken. Before taking the sample, the doctor or nurse may clean the area of skin with an antiseptic wipe. A needle attached to a syringe or special container is inserted into the vein. The syringe is used to draw out a sample of your blood. You may feel a slight pricking or scratching sensation as the needle goes in, but it shouldn’t be painful. If you don’t like needles and blood, tell the person who is taking the sample so they can make you more comfortable. When the sample has been taken, the tourniquet will be released, and the needle will be removed. Pressure is applied to the skin for a few minutes using a cotton-wool pad. A plaster may be put on the small wound to keep it clean.
• MRSA skin swab – methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus This is a test to take samples from your nose and groin, it is not painful. MRSA is at type of bacteria which can live on your skin harmlessly and does not usually cause problems. However, if the bacteria get into the wound/catheter or a drip it can cause infection. Do not worry if you are found to have these bacteria on your skin. We will contact you and, give you further information and prescribe creams and washes to remove the MRSA before your operation.
• Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) Rectal swabs – This sample is only taken from some patients who have had a stay in hospital within last 12 months. It is a painless swab taken from your bottom (rectum) to assess if you are a carrier of this infection.
• Urinalysis – A urinalysis (also known as a urine test) is a test that examines the visual, chemical and microscopic aspects of your urine (pee).
• Physical examination
• Pulmonary function (PFT) or spirometry test – These tests are performed to check the function of your lungs. They last for 30-40 minutes. You are requested to breath into a mouthpiece which is attached to recording device and is printed out in a chart.

Synopsis health questionnaire

To complete the synopsis health questionnaire you will need to sign up using your email address and then create a password.

If you are not able to complete the health questionnaire online, you will be able to complete it on arrival to our department. Please attend your appointment 30 minutes earlier than your appointment time to allow time to complete it.

Patient experience

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