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New PreOperative Assessment Room Opens at Breconshire War Memorial Hospital

24 March 2026

Patients attending Breconshire War Memorial Hospital for daycase surgery can now benefit from a newly opened dedicated preoperative assessment room, designed to provide a calm, confidential and fully equipped environment for their appointment. 

Jessica Williams said: “The new room has been purpose equipped to ensure that patients receive their assessment in a setting that offers the right clinical equipment, appropriate resources, and a quiet, private space for these important checks to take place. We already have a pre-operative assessment room in Llandrindod Wells, and we are delighted that we can now offer similar facilities in Brecon.” 

What is a preoperative assessment? 

A preoperative assessment is an essential part of the surgical pathway. It ensures that patients are medically prepared for their procedure, that any potential risks are identified in advance, and that the care team has all the information needed to support a safe and smooth experience on the day of surgery. Assessments may include health questionnaires, observations, investigations, and an opportunity for patients to ask questions about their upcoming procedure. 

The assessments also help us decide whether patients meet our thresholds for low-risk surgery in a community setting, or whether they may need to be seen in an alternative setting such as a District General Hospital. 

Who is the service for? 

The new assessment room is currently used for patients who are booked for surgery at Breconshire War Memorial Hospital or Llandrindod Wells Memorial Hospital. These hospitals provide a range of day surgery procedures, focused on those operations that are safe and appropriate to perform in a rural community setting. 

By investing in this dedicated space, the hospital team aims to enhance patient comfort, privacy and confidence ahead of their surgery, while supporting high quality, efficient care for the local population. 

Where next? 

With a new all-Wales health screening questionnaire being introduced, there are plans to provide local pre-operative assessment for patients due to receive their surgery in other health boards in Wales. The new questionnaire, backed up by digital solutions, will reduce travel for patients as they will be able to receive pre-op closer to home rather than travelling to DGH. In the longer term, the team is also looking at options to provide pre-op for patients due for surgery in England. 

How did the room become available? 

Implementing Scan4Safety in PTHB theatres has helped us improve our stock control, freeing up a whole room previously used for storage to provide extra clinic space.  

Scan4Safety uses barcode technology to track clinical supplies: 

  • Improving safety, as it provides instant traceability of medical devices and supplies in the event of a patient recall 

  • Improving stock control and reducing waste, as we can track stock availability in real time which also saves money 

  • Improving working lives, as we have clean and tidy stores, clearly labelled products, and simpler ordering processes