Consideration should be given to scheduling patients with diabetes at the start of the theatre list, to minimise disruption to the patient’s glycaemic control.
Hospitals should provide the services and resources required for the management of the surgical patient with diabetes, including explicit managerial and clinical policies.47
Hospitals should consider appointing a lead anaesthetist for diabetes.
Hospitals should have clinical guidelines, including:47
There must be the ability to provide the patient with the appropriate chaperone, as per GMC guidance on intimate examinations and chaperones.11 When examining a patient, anaesthetists must be sensitive to what the patient may consider as intimate, which could include any examination where it is necessary to touch or even be close to the patient.
Trusts should commit themselves to provide the time and resources to educate those who provide intraoperative care for patients.2
Theatre teams should undergo regular, multidisciplinary training that promotes teamwork, with a focus on human factors, effective communication and openness.2
All staff should have access to adequate time, funding and facilities to undertake and update training that is relevant to their clinical practice, including annual mandatory training such as basic life support.2
All institutions should have protocols and the necessary facilities for managing postoperative care and should review and update these regularly.179
The following protocols should be held and easily accessible for:
