What happens in the operating room ?

The operating department includes
1. reception or waiting area
2. anaesthetic rooms,
3. operating theatres and
4. recovery room.

It looks and feels quite different from other hospital
departments – more cold, brightly lit and may have no natural light. It is important for you
to keep warm, a blanket will help if you feel cold.

Theatre staff normally wear coloured ‘pyjamas’ and paper hats.

If you have walked to theatre, you will now need to get onto a theatre trolley for your anaesthetic. This is narrower and higher than a hospital bed and may feel quite cold and hard.

Theatre staff will check your identification bracelet, your name and date of birth, and will ask you about other details in your medical records as a final check that you are having the right operation.

You will then be taken into the anaesthetic room or sometimes, into the operating theatre where your anaesthetist will prepare you for your anaesthetic. Several people will be there, including your anaesthetist and the anaesthetic assistant. There may also be an anaesthetist
in training, a nurse and a student doctor or nurse. All the checks you have just been through will be repeated once again.