Preoperative Assessment

Preoperative assessment establishes that the patient is fully informed and wishes to go ahead with the planned procedure or operation. It ensures that the patient is as fit as possible for the surgery and anaesthetic. It minimises the risk of late cancellations by ensuring that all the essential resources and discharge requirements are identified and coordinated. Helps reduce a patient’s length of stay in hospital before and after surgery. Your preoperative assessment happens after you and your surgeon have decided a surgical procedure is necessary.

Pre-operative assessment clinics run at Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH), Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI), Acre Mill (Huddersfield) and Todmorden Health Centre. Your pre-operative assessment appointment can be at the hospital of your choice. We usually offer appointments closest to your home address, regardless of which hospital your surgery will be at. A qualified nurse performs the assessment by asking you questions about your general health. If you take medication then you must bring a GP prescription for the nurse to see.  Your blood pressure, weight and height will be checked and you may be sent for blood tests or an ECG. The nurse will also need your next of kin details in case of emergency.

The nurse may suggest you attend the anaesthetic clinic if you are having complex surgery or if you have a medical condition that is unstable or a complex medical history. The nurse will arrange an appointment with you. The preoperative assessment team will give you your admission details and fasting instructions when your operation date is known. If you need to have further blood tests before the planned procedure you will be contacted before the admission date.

The Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH) preoperative assessment unit is on the ground floor, opposite the hospital pharmacy department. ECG and pathology departments are also conveniently accessible on the ground floor for patients requiring blood and heart tests. The telephone number is 01422 223981.

The Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) preoperative assessment unit is based on the Lower Ground Floor in the old eye corridor. The telephone number is 01484 342652. We also have 2 clinic rooms across the road in the new outpatient Acre Mill building on the ground floor. We also offer offer pre-operative assessment appointments at the Todmorden Health Centre every Tuesdays.