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Pre-Operative Assessment

About the service

The Pre-operative Assessment (POA) service plays an important part in the preparation for your surgery.

A pre-operative assessment is performed on all patients who are to have an operation or a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic or regional anaesthetic.

The service will help provide the tools and support you need to ensure you have the very best outcome from your operation.

We have provided some information and links to other resources to help you get ready for your operation. You will also find information about your recovery and getting back to normal life after your operation. The aim is to help you maximise your chances of recovering quickly and help prevent complications.

We encourage you to read through the website and discuss any questions you may have about your anaesthetic with your pre-assessment nurse or anaesthetist.

What we do

The aims of the service are to:

  • Establish an up-to-date picture of your current general health.
  • Arrange appropriate blood tests, investigations and referral for medical advice, based on your current health and planned operation.
  • Make an assessment of your suitability for ambulatory surgery (day surgery), same-day admission for surgery or requirement for post-operative specialist care.
  • Provide information about your surgery, anaesthesia, intraoperative care and postoperative pain treatments in the hope of reducing any anxiety and facilitating your recovery.

How you’ll be referred to the service

Your pre-operative assessment happens after you and your surgeon have decided that an operation is necessary, before your surgery date.

You may be offered an appointment at any POA clinic across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Similarly, you may be offered a date for your operation at any hospital across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NHSGGC is committed to ensuring you receive safe, prompt and timely treatment. This means that you may have to attend a different hospital than the one which you attended for your clinic appointments.

Further Information

Sector Specific Information