Pre-operative assessment

Your appointment in the pre-operative assessment clinic

Preparing and assessing you for surgery

The pre-operative assessment clinic is a nurse-led clinic where we will determine if you are physically fit enough for surgery and an anaesthetic.

Currently, we are running a walk-in service. You do not need to book to come.

When should I attend the pre-assessment clinic?

It’s very important that you attend the walk-in clinics as soon as you are told that you are have been put on a surgery list. This is because you may need additional time in order to have tests or investigations before your procedure. You do not have to wait until you receive confirmation of your procedure date to attend.
Your pre-operative assessment must be completed before your booked covid swab appointment.
Your procedure may be delayed if your pre-assessment is not completed in time.
Your pre-assessment is valid for 3 months.

Where do I need to go?

Enter the hospital via the main outpatient entrance. The pre-operative assessment clinic is located on level 4, corridor B.

We are open Monday to Friday, 08:30am to 5:00pm.

Walk-in appointments are accepted up until 4:30pm.

What if I have a special requirement?

If you have a special requirement that it is important for us to meet you can either:

Phone the pre-assessment team so that we can discuss this with you or ask a carer or relative to do this on your behalf.
Come to pre-assessment if you are already on site. We will discuss any special arrangements with you or your carer and book you an appointment.

Please contact us if you need:

Access to accommodate significant mobility needs
Support from a carer or someone that is your advocate
Any other requirement that it’s important for us to meet to enable you to access the pre-assessment clinic.

Please tell us when you arrive in pre-assessment if you need information or communication in a format that you find easy to use and understand.

You can tell us if you have a special requirement by calling 0208 934 3668

This could be large print written information, or you may need our staff to wear masks that enable you to lip read or need written information in easy read if you have a Learning Disability for example.

What do I need to bring with me?

Reading glasses if you need them, as we will give you some forms to fill in when you arrive
Any questions or concerns, ideally written down, so that we can answer them
A list of your current medicine prescription or the tablets you are taking, including their strength and how often you take them
Any letters you have received from other hospitals involved in your current care and treatment
You might want to bring something to read and a drink in case you need to wait.

What will happen at the pre-assessment clinic?

On arrival, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your general health, fitness, previous operations and illnesses, and medication history. Completing this questionnaire is the first part of your pre- assessment.

The questionnaire will help us determine the type of pre-assessment clinic appointment you will need and if you will need any additional tests or investigations before your procedure.

As part of pre-assessment patients have their weight, height, blood pressure and heart rate measured.

You may need some blood tests and an ECG. For some procedures, we will take swabs from your groin and mouth. Patients with lung disease may also have a lung function test.

Will everything take place in one visit?

If appropriate, most patients will receive all the necessary tests and investigations on their first visit to pre-assessment. Sometimes we will need to give you an appointment to return at a later. This will ensure your pre-assessment is within the right timeframe and with the right clinician.

If you are having major surgery, and/or have complex medical problems, you may be offered an additional appointment with a senior sister or anaesthetic consultant. This may be by phone, or you may need to attend a clinic in person.

If further specialist tests or investigations are needed, the pre-assessment team will refer you to the relevant hospital department or arrange these via your GP.

After the appointment

You will have your Covid swab test within 3 days of your planned procedure.

Make sure you have attended your pre-op assessment before the date of your Covid swab.
Avoid travel to and from hospital by public transport for your Covid Swab appointment if you can.
Make sure you self –isolate at your home from the time of the swab until admission on the day of your procedure.

Contact us

Pre-assessment Clinic

Level 4, Corridor B Main Outpatients, Kingston Hospital

Further information

We have produced the following leaflets:

Instructions prior to surgery
Managing your diabetes before and after Day Surgery
Information for patients on pain management

More details on anaesthetics

The Royal College of Anaesthetists has created several leaflets that can give you extra information: