Feature: The Surgical Journey
The surgical pathway has many steps to ensure patients are fit and able to undergo their procedure and recover properly afterwards
Pre-op
As with any surgical procedure, pre-operative assessments are carried out which are tailored to the patient and the procedure they are scheduled to have. Approximately 70 pre-op assessments are carried out at The Walton Centre every week.
Pre-operative Assessment Lead Katie Bradbrook said: “It’s one of the most important steps a patient takes before their procedure, and ultimately that journey to feeling better. The main goal of pre-op is to prepare patients for their upcoming surgery ensuring a higher chance of success and a smoother recovery.
“In pre-op our job is to ensure the patient is safe to undergo a general anaesthetic. Patients undergo various examinations and assessments to ensure this. Their overall health is evaluated, identifying any protentional risks or complications. This allows the teams to provide appropriate care before, during and after the procedure.”
Jefferson Ward
On the morning of their surgery, the majority of patients will report to Jefferson Ward. It’s here that all the pre-op measures that were outlined will be doublechecked, confirming that it is still safe to carry out the surgery. Unless they have been admitted the night before, all patients undergoing elective surgery start their journey in Jefferson Ward.
Ward Manager Helen McKay said: “It can be such an extraordinary time for patients. For many, it’s the day they’ve been waiting for to get something they might have been living with for a long time sorted – from much needed pain relief to having a tumour removed. Our team of clinical professionals do whatever they can to make sure patients are comfortable and feel ready for their procedure, from getting them in their gowns to going through the checklist to making sure they are physically ready to proceed.”
Forward wait
Forward wait, where patients arrive just before heading in for their operation, is a bustling area first thing in the morning. Many of the day’s surgery patients will be waiting here before heading for their designated theatre.
“The main goal of pre-op is to prepare patients for their upcoming surgery ensuring a higher chance of success and a smoother recovery.”
Theatres Department Matron Vicky Lightfoot said: “When a patient arrives here, we will go through the presurgery checklist again and make absolutely sure they understand which procedure they are here for, and the consent that has been taken. We also make sure they are physically marked in the right places if the surgery is on one side in particular.
“Patients can be a bit tense by the time they get to the Theatres Department, so we try to keep the atmosphere light and positive while they are waiting. We have a range of staff in this area, but our fantastic team of healthcare assistants really make a huge difference to the patient experience.”
Recovery
Once their surgery has finished, a patient will be moved to the Theatre Recovery Room, an eight-bed unit next to the 
operating theatres. Here they are looked after while they wake up from their anaesthetic.
Vicky continued: “It’s imperative that patients are constantly monitored in recovery to make sure they don’t deteriorate. It’s unlikely they will need to be returned to surgery but having them wake up and recover in the same department is important.
“Once we’ve assessed them and got their pain level under control, they can move up to their designated ward to continue their recovery.”
Cairns Ward
Cairns Ward is one of the neurosurgical wards at The Walton Centre, so has a steady stream of patients coming in after surgery.
Ward Manager Abbie Birch said: “The lovely team on Cairns Ward not only supports patients after their surgery but also gets them well enough to leave and recover at home. It can be here on the ward where clinicians can assess whether the surgery has had the desired effect, so helping patients feel as well as possible is really important.
“Patients can be a bit tense by the time they get to the Theatres Department, so we try to keep the atmosphere light and positive while they are waiting.”
“One of the best parts of our job is seeing patients respond well to the operation they have just had. When we see them improve, it’s life changing.”