Nurse-led children’s pre-op clinic is cutting cancelled surgery in Northern Ireland

A nurse-led pre-operative assessment clinic at the Ulster Hospital is helping children get to surgery with fewer last-minute cancellations.

The Paediatric Anaesthetic Pre-Assessment Clinic is described by Northern Ireland’s Department of Health as the first nurse-led service of its kind in the country. Specialist nurses have completed dedicated competency-based training so children can be assessed earlier and problems identified before the day of surgery.

The department says the approach has enabled the team to replace 73% of late cancellations, helping make better use of theatre capacity at a time when waiting lists remain under pressure.

It is a practical change rather than a flashy one, but for families waiting for treatment, fewer wasted theatre slots can mean a more reliable route to care.