Fitter, Better, Sooner: helping your patients in general practice recover more quickly from surgery

Having an operation is a major event in a patient’s life. Many will have had limited previous exposure to hospitals. There is much patients can do to improve their physical and mental health prior to surgery that can have a significant impact on their recovery and long-term health. Understanding the steps they can take can empower patients to make lasting changes. Fitter, Better, Sooner is a toolkit aimed at helping patients to prepare physically and psychologically for surgery (Figure 1). It was produced by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), with representatives from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), and with patient representatives playing key roles on the working group, reflecting the importance of multidisciplinary input for optimal perioperative care. The resources have been endorsed by both the RCGP and RCS, and have been awarded ‘highly commended’ in the BMA Patient Information Awards 2019. Figure 1. Fitter, Better, Sooner patient information resources. https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/patient-information/ preparing-surgery-fitter-better-sooner. © Royal College of Anaesthetists. The toolkit is intended for patients who are awaiting, or considering, surgery. It introduces the many ways in which they can optimise their health, lifestyle, and activity levels to maximise their chances of a good recovery, free of complications. It …