The perioperative care team

Your perioperative care team will coordinate your care before, during, and after surgery to help you get what you want out of your operation. If you are placed in the care of a perioperative care team, the doctor coordinating your care (often an anaesthetist) will work closely with you and your surgeon or primary referrer (usually your GP) to:

• Understand what you want to get out of your treatment.
• Agree on the best approach to take.
• Identify opportunities to get you as fit as possible before your operation.
• Assemble a team of healthcare professionals to manage your health and wellbeing, through to your recovery
• and return to optimal health.

It is important that other people who support you are part of the perioperative care team too, such as family
members (whānau), or carers.

Your care team will be in regular communication with you and each other to make sure that everyone is clear and comfortable about the approach and working together towards the same goal. At every step of the way you should be involved in decisions about your care.

The doctor co-ordinating your care will discuss your options with you. These may include postponing an operation until you’re in the best possible state of health, or even the alternatives to having a procedure at all. They will talk you through any risks and explain the process for making decisions. You’re welcome to bring a family/whānau member with you.