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If inpatients are cared for in isolated/single specialty units, there should be medical cover and nursing care appropriate to the medical needs of the patients.¹¹

Where inter hospital or intra hospital transfer is necessary, patients should always be accompanied by appropriately trained staff.¹¹

All members of clinical staff working within the recovery area should be certified immediate life support providers and mandatory training should be provided.^7,13

For children, staff should hold an equivalent paediatric life-support qualification.^7,13

Patients having ophthalmic surgery should undergo preoperative preparation, where there is the opportunity to assess medical fitness and impart information about the procedure.⁷

The patient must be made aware of alternative treatment options, or the option for no treatment at all. It is acceptable to recommend one of the alternatives but, as the GMC states: ‘The doctor may recommend a particular option which they believe to be best for the patient, but may not put any pressure onto the patient to accept their...

As part of preoperative preparation, the plan for the perioperative management of any existing medications, such as anticoagulant drugs and diabetic treatment, should be agreed, taking into account the relative risks of stopping any medication in the light of the patient’s medical condition and the anaesthetic technique required. Advice should be sought from the multiprofessional team (e.g. medical colleagues, clinical...

The majority of ophthalmic surgery is done as day case procedures under local anaesthesia.²² Preoperative assessment should identify those patients who are not suitable for this approach and who might require general anaesthesia or intravenous sedation.^2,23

Patients who require anaesthesia or intravenous sedation should undergo preoperative anaesthetic assessment.⁷

Where ophthalmic surgery is performed as a day case procedure, the facilities should conform to best practice guidance. Day surgery operating theatres should meet the same standards as inpatient operating theatres.^24,25,26 Room should be available for patients to be seen in private by the anaesthetist and surgeon on the day of surgery.² A supervised...