Home » Top Tips » Hospitals » Surgery » 5 questions to ask before an operation
Andy Stein
February 9, 2026

5 questions to ask before an operation

Save article
[favorite_button post_id="" site_id=""]
Anesthetist Working In Operating Theatre Wearing Protective Gear checking monitors while sedating patient before surgical procedure in hospital
This is how the AI article summary could look. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

5 questions to ask before an operation

In this article we will describe 5 big questions to ask before an operation.

1. The BIG one – would you have this operation?

  • Ask the surgeon doing it (and/or who has referred you to them)
  • If there is any pause (or ifs ad buts), this may not be a great idea – and you should ask for other options to be explained to you.

2. What is your name, rank and are you going to do the operation?

  • Write his/her name down
  • Also .. what grade are you, and how many have you done on your own?
  • Can you show me any performance data ? You would look at Google reviews before you go to a restaurant or hotel, so ask questions about the surgeon.

How can I contact you if I have more questions?

Write that down as well.

3. Why do I need this operation?

  • And how will the operation be carried out? LA or GA? How long will I be in hospital? How long will be the rehab period?

Write all that down.

4. What are the other treatment options?

  • And is this operation the best option for me? What are the other options? What happens if I don’t have the operation?

Write all that down.

[“We have got that now” Ed]

5. What are the risks, benefits and possible complications?

  • Please go through them slowly.

Other questions

Anaesthesia options

  • What kind of anaesthesia is best for me? General? Local? Spinal?
  • Do I need to be seen in a ‘pre-op’ (pre-operative) clinic?
  • Will I need any blood test or other tests prior to surgery?
  • Have you made them aware of my allergies?
  • What can I do to make myseld even fitter for the operation?

Can you recommend any background reading for me and/or do you have a patient information leaflet?

Summary

We have now described 5 big questions to ask before an operation. We hope it has helped you.

Related Posts

Share this article

Your feedback matters to us!

Comments

    Comments are closed

    myHSN is here to help you get the best you can out of the NHS.

    Full of top tips and advice from health care professionals on how the NHS works and how you can make sure it works for you.
    Copyright © 2025 Health Service Navigator