Anaesthetists Handbook - MEDICAL EDUCATION at University ...

Preoperative assessment and investigations1. Operational PolicyThe Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Centre (PAAC) is an integral part ofall divisions encompassing many specialties within UniversityHospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Teaching Trust.The definition of the Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Centre’s role is:“To ensure the generic fitness of patients undergoing elective generalor regional (spinal) anaesthesia"LocationThe service at the University Hospital site is conducted within thevarious outpatient areas, where patients are initially assessed inorder to identify those who subsequently require a further extendedanaesthetic assessment within the PAAC at present situated on theground floor in outpatients clinic 4. The service at the Hospital of StCross site, Rugby, is conducted within outpatients and combines itsrole with that of the orthopaedic specific pre-operative service as wellas assessing patients from other surgical specialties.Patient SelectionIt is intended that all outpatients over the age of 18 years who haveagreed and consented to having surgical intervention and requiregeneral or regional anaesthesia will be seen and genericallyassessed by the Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Centre staff on thesame day that the decision for surgical intervention is made betweenthe individual and the clinician. This is however, subject to referral(either written or in some cases verbal) by the surgical team.Contact DetailsTelephone number 024 7696 6379Specialties using the PAACThe centre is open to all specialties that choose to refer their patientsfor anaesthetic assessment.164 Anaesthetists Handbook January 2010