Meeting your anaesthetist You will meet your anaesthetist before your operation. Your anaesthetist will make every effort to meet you on the ward before your surgery, but this is not always possible.

Assessing that you are fit enough Prior to your operation, your anaesthetist will ask you questions about your health. These will include questions about how you feel on the day of your operation and questions about any past or current illnesses you have, if you have any loose or capped teeth, any regular medications that you take and if you have any allergies. Your anaesthetist may also examine your mouth, heart and lungs.

Planning your anaesthetic Your anaesthetist will discuss with you what anaesthetics are available to you and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Together you will decide on your anaesthetic.

Which anaesthetic will depend on your operation, your health, your preferences and your anaesthetist’s opinion.

Before your operation This will vary from patient to patient. In general, you will change into a hospital gown and be taken to a room outside the operating theatre, known as the anaesthetic room.

The anaesthetic room Here you will meet your anaesthetist and theatre staff.  They will check your identification bracelet, your name and date of birth, and will ask you about other details in your medical records as a final check before your operation. You will be connected to some monitors that check your breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure. Sticky patches will be placed on your chest, a blood-pressure cuff will be placed on your arm and a clip will be placed on your finger. The monitors will bleep in time with your heartbeat and a cuff will inflate on your arm to take your blood pressure regularly. Depending on your operation more monitoring equipment may be attached.

Your anaesthetic A small needle may be placed in a vein in your arm or hand to help give you your anaesthetic and you may be given an oxygen mask to breathe through. Once you are ready, your anaesthetist will give your anaesthetic and you will be taken into the operating theatre.

During your operation Your anaesthetist will remain with you throughout your operation to ensure that you are kept safe and comfortable.

After your operation Your anaesthetist will take you to a recovery room. Here a team of recovery nurses will look after you until you are well enough to be taken to a ward.