Perioperative Care Services for Children and Young People | Best Practice Guidance
In partnership with the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) we are pleased to announce the publication today of the new Best Practice Guidance for Preoperative Care Services for Children and Young People.
Building on earlier CYP pre-assessment guidance published in 2022, this new document represents a significant step forward in paediatric perioperative care. Historically, children and young people have not always benefited from the same well-developed and standardised preoperative pathways as adults. This guidance aims to address that gap by supporting earlier assessment, better preparation, and more coordinated care.
Developed through multidisciplinary collaboration and aligned with national priorities such as Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT), the guidance brings together expertise from paediatric anaesthesia, paediatrics, nursing, regional networks, health play specialists, and patient representatives. It provides a structured yet flexible framework that can be adapted across a wide range of healthcare settings, from district general hospitals to specialist centres.
Importantly, the guidance recognises that effective preoperative care goes beyond clinical needs alone. It highlights the importance of supporting the emotional, developmental, and communication needs of children and their families throughout their perioperative journey.
The aim is clear, every child or young person requiring an anaesthetic for a procedure or operation should receive a preoperative assessment that meets their medical, physical, and emotional needs.
The Guidance can be accessed here:
Accompanied by a podcast Dr Amy Norrington talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about the APA Best Practice Guidance on Perioperative Care Services for Children and Young People.
Dr Norrington is the Chair of the APA Paediatric Perioperative Care Subcommittee. In this podcast we talk about why paediatric preoperative assessment is so important and how this guidance can help you to provide optimal outcomes for children and improve your theatre efficiency. Amy also shares some practical top tips for making a preop service work effectively.
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