16 October, 2024
Pictured L-R: Dr Aislinn Sherwin (Consultant Anaesthesiologist), Roseann Murray (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Clare Flynn (Clinical Nurse Specialist) and Dr Alan Broderick (Consultant Anaesthesiologist)
Operation Preparation, a new podcast hosted by St James’s Hospital staff, with the support of the St James’s Hospital Foundation, was launched on World Anaesthesia Day. Paying homage to its title, the six-part series provides surgical patients with key information ahead of their upcoming procedure with the objective of empowering patients.
The proposal for the series came about when Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Pre Anaesthesia Assessment Clinic, Roseann Murray saw a gap in accessible, reliable, information for patients when she was on maternity leave. Roseann said “I listened to a great maternity podcast during and after pregnancy which was really valuable and informative. I realised that this sort of thing just didn’t exist for our patients undergoing a perioperative journey.” To bridge this gap, the St James’s Hospital Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic team took the opportunity to utilise popular and current communication methods to connect real life patient concerns with a wider audience. The production provides simplified, jargon-free information that is accessible at the click of a button.
Operation Preparation seeks to answer the common questions people have about anaesthesia in the lead up to surgery, by providing a compilation of relevant patient experiences and insights from which new patients can benefit from, allowing them to clarify their own concerns. The series covers a variety of perioperative topics, such as anaesthetic preparation, what to expect from your appointment, explaining the different types of anaesthetic, why patients may need to fast and how to improve your health ahead of surgery.
St James’s Hospital CEO, Prof. Mary Day praised the initiative, highlighting the positive impact it will have on patients who are awaiting a surgical procedure “This podcast creates an open dialogue around surgery and brings the listener into the conversation, highlighting shared concerns but leaving the patient feeling empowered, more confident and prepared for their surgical journey. Effective two-way communication is a fundamental aspect of best-practice healthcare, this series illustrates the importance of the care provider-patient relationship and that each patient’s question is valid and has purpose.”
Dr Aislinn Sherwin, Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Co-Lead for the Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic in St James’s Hospital, said: “We hope that our perioperative podcast, Operation Preparation will aid patients along the journey for their upcoming surgery. We want the podcast to empower patients in their preparation for any operation they might have and encourage our listeners to take an active role in the management of their health. The Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic team hope to expand on the current series and we have big plans to share more key information about anaesthesia and beyond!”
President of The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, Professor Donal Buggy added “The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland is delighted to support the launch of the 'Operation Preparation' podcast on this year's World Anaesthesia Day. This initiative reflects a genuine commitment to ensuring patients have access to clear, comprehensive, and accessible information about their perioperative journey. By providing these valuable insights and practical advice, the Pre Anaesthesia Assessment clinic at St James’s Hospital is empowering patients to take an active role in their care, which is an essential aspect of delivering high-quality anaesthetic services. I commend Dr. Aislinn Sherwin, Consultant in Anaesthesiology and the team for their dedication and innovation in enhancing patient engagement and understanding.”
The six-part series can be streamed online and via smartphone. Operation Preparation is endorsed by St James’s Hospital with the aim and objective of improving and enhancing the experience of surgical patients. The series falls under the ‘Steps for a Stronger Start’ initiative which advises patients to prepare both their mind and body ahead of surgery, hopefully allowing them to heal and recover more quickly. Further information on the initiative can be found on the St James’s Hospital website.