Theatres and Anaesthetics

Patients are referred for surgery by their physician or surgeon.

The choice of anaesthetic is determined by the type of operation you are having:

• Local anaesthetic: This is an injection to numb a part of your body. You stay awake but do not feel pain.
• Regional anaesthetic: This is an injection to numb a larger part of your body (such as an arm or leg). You stay awake but do not feel pain.
• General anaesthetic: This gives a state of controlled unconsciousness. This is like being asleep and you do not feel pain.
• Sedation: This is when you are given a medicine to make you feel sleepy and relaxed.

If you have been told that you require surgery, you will be notified by a letter and given an admission date and time to attend. This is called your admission letter. Please read the instructions carefully and any specific pre-operative information, including advice regarding medication or eating and drinking.

If you have any concerns regarding the information that you have been sent, please notify the hospital prior to your admission.

If your procedure is under a general anaesthetic, you will be invited to attend a pre-operative assessment (pre-op) prior to your admission date, this is to ensure that you are fit for surgery.

Before your operation, you might also want to consider packing the following items:

• A nightdress or pyjamas
• Clean underwear
• Dressing gown and slippers
• Small hand towel
• Toiletries – soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant
• Sanitary towels or tampons
• Razor and shaving material
• Comb or hairbrush
• Book or magazines
• Small amount of money
• Your usual medication, and a list of the doses for each medicine.

Before surgery

On arrival to theatre, we will aim to make your stay in the department as comfortable as possible, prior to your operation. 

You’ll be booked in by our administrative team, before being cared for by our clinical team who will complete the check in process. You may be asked some questions to ensure we have all the information we need.

The theatre team will send for you when they are ready to perform your operation. Your details will be checked again, before you are escorted into the anaesthetic room to receive the anaesthesia you are having for your operation.

You will be monitored throughout your procedure. This includes your pulse, oxygen levels, blood pressure and ECG.

Following surgery

Following your procedure, you will be transferred into a recovery area, where you can recover from your operation. 

We will continue to monitor you in recovery and will only discharge you back to the ward when we are happy that you are fully conscious and comfortable.

If you have had a general anaesthetic, you can expect to feel a little disorientated and sometimes even a little tearful. This is normal and quite common. 

When you are ready, the recovery staff will call the ward to collect you and you will be discharged from our care back to the ward for further care.

You can view a selection of our 'Fit for Surgery' videos below:

• Fit for Surgery - Introduction
• Fit for Surgery - Breathing Techniques
• Fit for Surgery - Eating well
• Fit for Surgery - Moving more and staying active
• Fit for Surgery - Mental health and wellbeing.

Royal College of Anaesthetists

There is a host of useful information for patients on the Royal College of Anaesthetists website. 

This includes detailed explanations on what an anaesthetist is, how to prepare for surgery, informative leaflets and videos.