What happens when you arrive

You will be greeted by the receptionist in the Pre-Operative Assessment Unit who will check your details are correct. You will then be asked to fill in a health questionnaire, and the nursing staff will go through your answers with you to determine whether further assessment is required.

Tests:

• blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels
• nose, groin and rectal swabs to detect bacteria which may cause infections
• some patients require blood tests or an ECG (heart monitor)

The assessment may take between 10 minutes and a few hours dependent upon your individual needs. You may wish to bring a book and diabetic patients should bring something to eat and drink.