Search

There must be systematic measures in place to respond to serious incidents. These measures should protect patients and ensure that robust investigations are carried out by trained safety leads. When an incident occurs, it must be reported to all relevant bodies internal and external to the organisation.²⁰¹ 

Agreed internal referral pathways to other specialties should be in place for the minority of cases in which this may be required to expedite further investigation and patient optimisation. This should be done in close collaboration between the preoperative assessment lead and nominated representatives from appropriate specialties, e.g. cardiology, diabetes, renal, respiratory and geriatric medicine.

Where possible, the IPS should encourage engagement in research in pain medicine, including recruitment into well designed national and international multicentre studies.⁶⁵  The IPS should be encouraged to be research-aware.⁶⁶  

Agreed internal referral pathways to other specialties should be in place for the minority of cases in which this may be required to expedite further investigation and patient optimisation. This should be done in close collaboration between the preoperative assessment lead and nominated representatives from appropriate specialties (e.g. cardiology, diabetes, renal, respiratory and geriatric medicine).