• Patient View
• GP View

• About us
• How to find us
• Patients & visitors
• Wards & departments
• In the press
• Support us
• Members
• GPs

Wards & departments

• Surgery Department
  • Adult Day Surgery Unit
  • Breast Surgery
  • Clinics at Royal Berkshire Bracknell Clinic
  • Clinics at the Royal Berkshire Hospital
  • Clinics at Townlands
  • Clinics at West Berkshire Community Hospital
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Endocrine Surgery
  • Hunter Ward
  • Kennet Ward
  • Lister Ward
  • Loddon Ward
  • Patient information leaflets
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Pre-operative assessment clinic
    • Pre-operative leaflets
    • POAC stages
  • Stomatherapy
  • Upper gastrointestinal (laparoscopic) Surgery
  • Vascular and general surgery

• Home | Wards & departments | Surgery Department |
  • Pre-operative assessment clinic

Pre-operative Assessment Clinic (POAC):
What to expect before your operation

Pre-operative assessment clinic specialises in assessing patients' fitness for planned surgery for all patients over the age of 16, having either urology surgery, general surgery or orthopaedic surgery. An assessment is valid for 12 weeks.

When patients are informed at clinic that they need an operation, a basic assessment (Triage) needs to be carried out to ensure that they are fit to go onto the waiting list.

Patients will be asked to complete a health screening questionnaire before coming in to POAC.

Alternatively patients who are already on the waiting list that have not been triaged are given a booked appointment to have an assessment by the waiting list officer approximately a month before their date of surgery.

Waiting to be seen
POAC have several different clinics running throughout the day and patients may not be seen in the order that  they have checked in at reception. POAC does experience busy periods throughout the week and we advise that patients bring something to occupy themselves with. Patients can bring someone with them to the clinic; however, please be aware that our reception area has limited space.

What to bring with you
It would be helpful if patients bought with them glasses and/or hearing aid if worn and any medication that they are regularly taking. This can either be in the original packaging or a repeat prescription.

Assessment stages
Depending upon your individual fitness and the type of surgery you are having, you may go through various assessment stages. Click here to find out more.

MRSA testing
All patients will be tested (screened) for MRSA, this will be done at any stage of your assessment. (NB patients that are known to have had MRSA in the past will not be screened but given treatment before their admission).

Most of our patients are cleared for surgery at these appointments; however, some patients will not be cleared for surgery and will either need to return to their General Practitioner (GP) for further treatment (usually treatment for urine infections or treatment for high blood pressure) or refered to another department for further investigation or advice (for example cardiology department).

Transport
If patients require transport, this will need to be arranged by the patient or their representative, through the patient's GP. The Trust no longer organises this.

Smoking
Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the hospital or grounds.

Refreshments

• Coffee bars (main entrance)
• Marks and Spencers (main entrance)
• Restaurant (level 1, South Block)

There are other refreshment and retail outlets around the hospital - please ask a member of staff for directions to the nearest one.

Nearest car park
We advise most patients to use the multi storey car park as it has the most spaces. Use the car park lifts/stairs to go to Level 2. Go through Main Entrance building, past the main reception and M&S into Centre Block (signed All Wards and Departments), turn left at the Welcomers desk into Centre Block and carry on up the corridor to South Block. POAC is outside in the South Block Annex, South Block staff car park.

Drop off points
Drop-off points only are available in the South Block car park, off Redlands Road. There are several disabled parking bays outside South Block entrance. Parking on roads around the hospital is very limited and has strict time restrictions – please check as the area is regularly patrolled.

Interpreting service
Patients requiring an interpreter (foreign language or British Sign Language) should ask a representative to contact POAC to request an interpreter for their appointment.

Who to contact if you need help

Department Manager: Sister Tracey Chapple
Clinical Lead: Dr Jennie Rechner
Matron: Lynne Buttery