Join us:

The current challenges reflective of today's preoperative assessment clinics (demand, capacity and patient pathways)

Wednesday 15th July 2026, 7-8pm

This webinar will explore current challenges in preoperative assessment services, national aims and priorities, and the importance of effective multidisciplinary team collaboration across the surgical pathway. It will be presented by the GIRFT National Lead for Preoperative Assessment.

Preoperative assessment plays a vital role in preparing patients for surgery, identifying risks and supporting safer, more efficient perioperative care. However, late assessment can lead to postponements, short-notice cancellations and disruption for
patients, families and teams.

The session will consider how earlier assessment, improved risk stratification and reduced variation in practice can be supported nationally and locally.

The webinar will cover:

• Key findings from the national PACE evaluation, published in April 2026, including reasons for postponements and cancellations within 24 hours of surgery
• Current challenges in preoperative pathways
• The role of early screening and risk stratification in improving patient flow and reducing avoidable delays
• How national guidance can support consistent decision-making and reduce variation in preoperative testing
• Updates on Echo/NT-proBNP, atrial fibrillation, and IPC guidance including MRSA and decolonisation

This webinar is relevant to all members of the multidisciplinary team involved in preoperative assessment and perioperative care.

Medical Doctors (Consultants/Non-consultant/Trainee): £19.99 

AHPS (Nurses/Pharmacists/Managers/Administrative Staff): £9.99

Our webinars are FREE to members.

Find out about our membership benefits here

Guest Speaker

Emma McCone

GIRFT National Lead for Preoperative Assessment, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trus

Emma is currently seconded as the national GIRFT lead for preoperative assessment and has worked in the specialty for over 20 years. Her most recent clinical role was nurse lead for preoperative assessment at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She is passionate about developing preoperative assessment services
and their vital role in safe perioperative care.

Since joining GIRFT, Emma has led national workstreams on workforce development, service guidance, and the national non-medical preoperative assessment network in England, which now has over 350 members.

Emma also works with services to improve surgical pathways, focusing on capacity and demand, workforce, early risk assessment and interventions, while maintaining a positive patient experience. She also led the national postponement at preoperative assessment evaluation, with the initial pilot published in the British Journal of Surgery.