Surgery
Surgery is the speciality of medicine that treats diseases and disorders by cutting, removing or changing the body with an operative procedure.
Surgery is preformed by a surgeon, a physician with specialised training in operative procedures. There are many surgical specialities providing treatment in all areas of the human body including the bowel, abdomen and breast. Surgeries can be minor daycase procedures or major procedures such as bowel resection.
The service is provided 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
The General Surgery team in the Northern Trust is made up of:
Six Consultants at Causeway Hospital Coleraine
Nine Consultants at Antrim Area Hospital
Pre-operative Assessment Unit
The Pre-Operative assessment team are here to ensure you are fit to proceed with an operation and have all the information you require to meet your specific needs in preparation for anaesthetic.
You will be asked to complete the Pre-Op Health Questionnaire that has been given to you including all information requested about yourself.
If you receive the Questionnaire in the Outpatients Department, you should return it to a member of nursing staff who will forward it on to the Pre- Op Assessment Service.
If you have received the Questionnaire via post, you should complete and return to the Pre-Assessment service using the pre-paid envelope provided.
You may receive a phone call from the Pre Op Assessment service to ask questions about your health.
The Pre-Op assessment clinic
If you take medication or have any medical conditions you may need to attend the Pre-Op Assessment clinic in Antrim or Causeway hospitals. At the clinic you will be seen by a Pre-Op Assessment Nurse or an Anaesthetist and any necessary tests will be arranged. Tests may include blood tests, X-ray, ECG (heart trace) or breathing tests.
You will also receive important information in preparation for your operation and will have the chance to ask questions.
The Pre-Assessment Team can be contacted Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm.
Enquiries relating to Pre-operative assessment or information on procedures carried out in Antrim Area Hospital, Causeway Hospital, Mid Ulster Hospital or Whiteabbey Hospital can be made by contacting one of the teams:
- Antrim: 028 9442 4962
- Causeway: 028 7034 6101
Elective Surgical Unit
The Elective Surgical Unit (C4) at Antrim Area Hospital is an 18 bed unit where medical and surgical patients are admitted for elective procedures.
The unit also admits emergency ear, nose and throat (ENT) patients and has an ENT treatment room which is open 24 hours per day.
The aims of the Unit:
- To streamline the patient’s journey from pre-admission to discharge.
- To ensure patients are fully prepared for anaesthetic and the procedure in order to facilitate day of procedure admission
- To provide acute elective services within the compliment beds identified for each specialty
- To ensure patients get safe and effective care
- To streamline patients’ throughput and enhance access to inpatient services ensuring that patients are placed in the appropriate location and nursed by clinically competent staff
- To maximise bed occupancy/theatre efficiency and minimise elective cancellations
