Pre-operative assessment service

We care for patients preparing to undergo surgery or procedures under general anaesthetic. Our aim is to ensure you are physically prepared, informed, and confident about your upcoming procedure.

About our service

Our pre-operative assessment is a nurse-led service designed to evaluate your fitness for surgery and anaesthesia. We focus on:

  • Ensuring your medical fitness for surgery and identifying any issues that may need further attention
  • Reducing anxiety and concerns by providing clear, personalised information
  • Sharing important details about your hospital admission, procedure, expected length of stay, and discharge process
  • Providing lifestyle and health advice to optimise your recovery (e.g. support with smoking or alcohol reduction)

Your assessment will be carried out by a registered nurse or allied health professional who will ask questions about your general health, medical history, and lifestyle.

The pre-operative process

Once you and your surgeon have agreed to proceed with surgery, you’ll be invited to complete a pre-operative health questionnaire.

  • You’ll receive a text message from Ultramed containing a secure link to an online platform called MyPreOp
  • The questionnaire gathers important information about your health to assess your readiness for surgery
  • This digital process helps reduce delays, streamlines hospital planning, and ensures a more efficient patient experience

After submitting your MyPreOp form:

  • You will be contacted by our team
  • We’ll let you know if you’re ready for surgery or if you require further review or testing before proceeding

Attending pre-operative clinics

What to expect about attending a pre-operative clinic for an assessment before your operation.

Why do I need to attend a pre-operative assessment clinic?

You may be asked to attend a pre-operative clinic to ensure you are fit for your operation and allows the service to identify any problems at an early stage. This gives us some time to address any issues before your surgery and make sure any long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes are under control.

The assessment will also help you to plan for your hospital stay and recovery and give you the chance to ask any questions about your surgery.

Where will I need to go for my pre-operative assessment appointment?

You will receive an appointment invite by letter which will tell you which hospital site to attend, what day and time.

How long will my pre-operative assessment appointment take?

The average appointment duration is one hour. This may take longer if you require further tests or need to see an Anaesthetist.  We aim to make your stay in the department as short as possible wherever we can.  Be prepared by bringing drinks, snacks and something to occupy your time.

What should I bring with me?

  • Glasses and hearing aids if you wear them
  • Any medication you take regularly (either in the original packaging or your repeat prescription) including herbal remedies
  • A note of any allergies you have
  • A note of any questions you want to ask us

What happens during the pre-operative assessment appointment?

Your assessment may include:

  • Blood pressure 
  • Pulse
  • Weight
  • Height
  • Urine test – please try not to go to the toilet before you arrive in the clinic
  • Skin swabs for MRSA
  • ECG (heart tracing) 

Next of kin

We ask all adult patients to provide a full name and contact details for a nominated next of kin prior to your surgery.

What happens after my pre-assessment appointment?

We hope you will understand more about your operation and have had your questions answered.

When we receive your test results and when we are happy with the outcome, we will tell your surgeon’s booking team that you are fit for surgery.

There is no set waiting time between your assessment and surgery. This depends on your surgeon’s waiting list. Your surgeon’s booking team will contact you when they can schedule a date for your operation.

If there is any delay with the pre-assessment process, for example if we need to complete further tests, we will keep your GP informed.

Who can I contact if I have any urgent questions?

For any urgent questions please telephone the number on your appointment letter.

Pre-operative assessment online questionnaire

General anaesthetic patients must complete a pre-operative questionnaire before surgery can go ahead. The questionnaire assesses if you are fit to proceed with surgery.

Patients will be asked to complete the questionnaire online via a secure web-based programme called MyPreOp. Completing your questionnaire online reduces waiting times for patients and makes it easier for the hospital to plan your care.

MyPreOp will ask you questions about you, your health and operation. MyPreOp generally takes between 30-60 minutes to complete. You do not need to complete it all at one time because your progress is saved as you enter your information. It is importance that you complete and submit your questionnaire as soon as possible as this information will be used to plan your surgery.  

The pre-operative assessment team will contact you directly with the result of the initial assessment and will organise any relevant appointments and investigations in preparation for your surgery.

If you are unable to complete the questionnaire yourself a family member, friend or carer can support. If for any reason you are unable to complete the questionnaire online you can contact the pre-operative team who will arrange for your questionnaire to be completed over the phone.

When should I complete MyPreOp questionnaire?

Please complete the MyPreOp questionnaire as soon as possible. This information will be used to plan your surgery.

How do I access MyPreOp?

You will be sent a 12-character code via text message from Ultramed. This will enable you to start the questionnaire online.

What are the benefits of MyPreOp?

  • It may enable you to avoid visiting the hospital for pre-operative appointments and save you the associated costs (for instance travel, parking, time off work).
  • If you need to attend a pre-operative assessment clinic then an appointment will be organised with the appropriate professional based on your individual needs.
  • You can complete the MyPreOp questionnaire at a time that is convenient to you giving you time to carefully consider your answers.
  • Completing the MyPreOp questionnaire reduces the risk of cancelling your operation on the day of surgery.
  • Using the MyPreOp questionnaire reduces the use of paper to support our carbon neutral goals.

Is my information secure?

Ultramed takes great care to make sure your healthcare information is kept secure with encryption. You can find out more on: www.ultramed.co/privacy-notice 

Who do I contact if I have a problem setting up or using MyPreOp?

If you need any technical assistance with completing your assessment you can get in touch with Ultramed. You can call MyPreOp on 020 3322 4545 or email [email protected]. The Ultramed support team is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

Who do I contact if I have questions about the pre-assessment process?

For support with the pre-assessment process please call the telephone number on your appointment letter.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my operation?

For any questions concerning your operation please contact the telephone number on your appointment letter.