About your pre-admission clinic appointment
Your appointment will be with the pre-admission clinic, also called a pre-anaesthetic clinic. This may be in person, via telehealth or over the phone. It will depend on your medical history and what type of surgery you're having.
During your appointment we'll check your health and your medical history. We'll talk to you about what to expect before, during and after your surgery.
Your appointment may take up to 5 hours, even if your appointment is via telehealth or over the phone.
Before your appointment
If you've changed your address or contact details please contact the main hospital or the clinic.
You can eat and drink as normal, and you can keep taking your regular medicines, including insulin, unless a healthcare professional gives you other advice.
Support for your appointment
If you need to travel more than 50 km for your appointment you may be eligible for the Queensland Government's Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme.
If you need an interpreter for your appointment we'll book one for you.
You can also talk to one of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers.
What to bring to the clinic
- Medicare card
- Concession cards such as Health Care Card or Veterans Card
- Any forms we've asked you to fill in
- All medicines that you're taking, including prescribed, over the counter and vitamins and supplements (this includes insulin, eye drops and medicated creams)
- Food, water and a book or activity
- Something to keep you warm
During your appointment
You may see the following health professionals during your appointment. They'll answer any questions you have about your surgery and recovery.
Anaesthetist
The anaesthetist will ask you about your health and make sure you're well enough to have an anaesthetic. They may need to refer you to more health professionals to make sure you're ready for your surgery.
Resident medical officer
The resident medical officer is part of your surgical team. They'll check your health and medical history. You may need to sign a consent form for your surgery. They may send you for preoperative tests.
Registered nurse
The nurse will check your observations, height and weight. A social and health assessment will be completed. They will explain what will happen on the day of your surgery and give you instructions about fasting and showering to prepare for your surgery. The nurse will also talk to about what will happen after your surgery.
Pharmacist
The pharmacist will check what medicines you've been taking. They'll work with your surgical team, and let you know if you need to stop taking any medicines before your surgery. They'll also check and update your allergies.
Allied health
You may have to see a physiotherapist, speech pathologist, stomal therapist or a specialist nurse. This will depend on the type of surgery you're having.
Preoperative tests
We'll do some tests such as ECG and pathology during your pre-admission appointment. You may need to arrange other tests before your surgery. We'll talk to you about these tests during your appointment.
Cancel your appointment
If you have to cancel your appointment, call the number printed on the front of your appointment letter, or call your hospital facility.
If you don't call us, and you miss your appointment, your surgery may be delayed.
Book a new date for your surgery
If you're sick or want to book a new date for your surgery, please call the Elective Bookings Office using the phone number in your booking letter.
Get a medical certificate
We can give you a medical certificate for your pre-admission appointment.
Registered nurse phone assessment
You may have your appointment over the phone with a registered nurse if:
- you've already been in hospital for a similar surgery
- you're having a minor surgery and meet our anaesthetic criteria.
We'll do a full medical, anaesthetic and social assessment with you over the phone. We'll also check what medicines you're taking and will work with your anaesthetist, pharmacist and surgical team.
Surgery under local anaesthetic
If you're having surgery under a local anaesthetic, the Elective Booking Office will send you a letter confirming your surgery date. You'll need to contact the pre-admission clinic and tell the registered nurse what medicines you're taking. This information will be in your letter.
It's important to contact us as soon as you can. This gives the registered nurse time to talk to your surgical team who may ask you to stop taking your medicines. Failure to do this, may result in your surgery being delayed.
Day Surgery and Treatment Unit
If you're booked in to have your surgery in the Day Surgery and Treatment Unit, a registered nurse from the Day Surgery and Treatment Unit will contact you and talk to you about your surgery.