Our anaesthetists are senior medically qualified doctors who have completed postgraduate training in anaesthesia, critical care and pain medicine and are all consultants at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.
We are responsible for your safety and well-being before, during and after your procedure. We will ensure that you are fit for surgery and talk to you about the type of anaesthetic you will receive. If there are choices available, we will help you select the most appropriate one. We will manage your pain relief during and after your procedure which is important to help you recover as quickly as possible.
You will be invited for a preoperative assessment by the private hospital. This will either be in person or over the telephone. Any queries or concerns about your health will be flagged up by a specialist nurse and referred to one of our consultant led pre-assessment clinics. At this clinic, one of our anaesthetists will review any concerns and make recommendations, usually based on national guidance. They may need to see you at a face-to-face consultation for further assessment and discussions about risk. We work closely with your consultant surgeon and other medical consultant colleagues to ensure that any health issues are optimised before your procedure.
There is good evidence that fitter, healthier patients recover from surgery more quickly with less complications. Examples of small changes that can be made include increased physical activity, eating more healthily and trying to reduce (or stop) smoking and drinking alcohol. If you have an existing medical problem, we recommend checking with your GP surgery whether there is anything you can do to improve it in advance.
The Royal College of Anaesthetists provide resources on how you can prepare for your operation which can be found using the links below.
You will meet your consultant anaesthetist on the day of your procedure. They will review your preoperative assessment and may ask some further questions to complete their assessment. They will discuss the types of anaesthetic you can have, including benefits, risks and your preferences. This will also depend on the type of surgery and any medical problems you have, allowing you to decide together on an anaesthetic plan that is best for you. A ‘premed’ may be prescribed – this could be pain relief or drugs to reduce stomach acid or anxiety.
When the time comes you will be taken to a room where the anaesthetic is to be administered. A cannula (a thin plastic tube) will be inserted into a blood vessel, usually on the back of your hand or arm. This will be used to give any drugs or fluids required during and after surgery. Monitoring equipment will be attached to assess your condition continuously throughout the operation and you will be given oxygen to breathe via a clear plastic mask.
If you are having a general anaesthetic or sedation, drugs will be injected into the cannula, and will take effect very quickly. You'll start feeling light-headed and relaxed, before becoming unconscious if you are having a general anaesthetic. Your anaesthetist will stay with you throughout the procedure and make sure you remain asleep or relaxed if having sedation. Appropriate medications will be given to you during surgery to ensure that you are as comfortable and nausea-free as possible after your procedure.
When the procedure is finished your consultant anaesthetist will accompany you to the recovery room where you will be looked after by a specialist nurse. You will be kept fully monitored and regularly assessed to ensure you are as comfortable as possible until you are deemed safe to be escorted back to the ward. Your consultant anaesthetist may review you on the ward later in the day to assess you clinically, ensure your pain relief is optimised and to answer any questions you may have.
Generally, a degree of pain or discomfort may be expected during your recovery. Pain-relief will be prescribed by your consultant anaesthetist, to be given whilst on the ward and also to take at home. If you are still needing pain relief two weeks after discharge from the hospital, you should get in touch with your GP to discuss this further.
You should contact your GP or the hospital where you had your surgery if:
If you feel very unwell, you should go to your nearest emergency department as soon as possible.
All our Consultant Anaesthetists who provide anaesthesia for children in Private Practice also work with children at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. They are skilled and experienced in dealing with the concerns and worries of children and their carers.
The Royal College of Anaesthetists has several excellent resources which will provide you with information and help you prepare your child for their anaesthetic.
