Pre-operative assessment

If you are to have an operation you will need a pre-operative assessment either on the day your surgeon informed you of the need for surgery, or at a later date/time.

If you are to have a local anaesthetic, the pre-op assessment can take place up to six months in advance of the surgery, depending on your general health.

If you are to have a general anaesthetic, the pre-op assessment should take place one month in advance of the surgery.

Opening times

As from Monday 19 March 2012, the pre-assessment department has extended their walk-in service for all patients who require a pre assessment

The new opening times are:
Monday – Friday 08:30 – 20:00
Phlebotomy: Monday – Friday 17:30hrs except Wednesday 18:30hrs

Please note the last Walk-in patient will be accepted at 19:15hrs.

Pre-assessment is an integral part to surgery and therefore all patients who are booked for surgery require pre-assessment to establish if the patient is fully fit, to undergo the procedure.

A pre-assessment appointment:

• ensures that the patient has received information about the procedure and anaesthetic.
• minimises the risk of late cancellations on the  day of surgery.
• provides information about any specific pre-operative instructions, e.g. any fasting instructions.
• identifies any condition that may require intervention prior to admission and surgery and take appropriate action, e.g. patients taking warfarin etc.
• improves the patient’s experience of surgery, by providing information about the operation and giving patients the opportunity to ask questions.

There have been some occasions when the patients has been informed by their clinicians that pre assessment can be done on the day of surgery, this is incorrect and will result in a cancellation on the day of surgery.

Surgery could be cancelled, if the patient has not been pre-assessed.

Pre-operative assessment clinic

The pre-operative assessment is a health check to make sure that you are fully prepared for your hospital admission, treatment and discharge. The aim is to ensure you are fit and well prior to your operation.

During your visit a number of investigations will be carried out. If you are wearing contact lenses and are to have cataract surgery these will need to be left out for a specific period of time:

• two weeks for soft lenses,
• four weeks for gas permeable lenses, or 
• six weeks for hard lenses.

A member of the pre-assessment team (nurse) will see you and ask you several questions regarding:

• your general health,
• current eye problems, and 
• your social situation so that we can plan for your admission and discharge.

When you come in for your appointment you should bring with you a list of all your current medications and any eye drops you are taking.

Following the clinic, all the results from your investigations will be reviewed and, if necessary, your GP will be contacted by letter and informed of any problems that have been identified. If the admission date has to be cancelled because of problems identified at pre-assessment, a new date will be offered when all further investigations have been satisfactorily completed.

Further information

If you have any questions, please contact the pre-operative assessment unit on 020 7566 2393.

For more information, advice, or support, you can also contact Moorfields Direct, our nurse-led helpline, on 020 7566 2345 (Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm).