In the final episode of Season 4, the PAAC team explores perioperative care and cancer support and resouces. This episode features the Irish Cancer Society with Director of Clinical Affairs Amy Nolan and breast cancer survivor Anna.

This episodes describes the Irish Cancer Society’s services and resources, funded by donations, including transport, night nursing, counselling, support lines, daffodil centres and welfare and supports teams. It also covers research investment, screening programmes, skin cancer awareness, showing improved outcomes with over 220,000 survivors in Ireland. Anna shares her breast cancer journey, surgery, reconstruction, recovery challenges, and importance of support, preparation, asking questions.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Visit the Irish Cancer Society.

Contact Number: 1800 200 700

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAAC – Pre-Anesthetic Assessment Clinic

CAIA – CAIA services for children, adolescents and young adults

GP – General Practitioner

IT – Information Technology

221+ group – group affected by cervical check screening programme failures

LACES – Life and Cancer Enhancing Survivorship programme

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode the team are joined by guest speaker, paediatric Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Intensivist Dr Suzane Crowe and the PAAC team focuses on preparing children and families for surgery. This episode outlines what happens on the day, including admission, play therapy support and meeting the theatre staff. They describe anaesthesia options such as face mask or IV cannula induction, monitoring devices, and expected behaviours during going asleep and recovery.

The episode covers side effects like agitation, fasting guidance, pain management and recovery expectations. Paediatric patient Emmett shares his experience with delays, emergency re-operation, and reassurance from staff and parents.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

‘Your Little Sleep’ - children’s hospital preparation book by anaesthesiologist Dr. Ann-Marie Crowe – buy here - https://geniusjuniors.ie/products/your-little-sleep-an-illustrated-storybook-for-children-having-an-operation-or-scan-under-general-anaesthesia?srsltid=AfmBOorfJkTIwhnkHDJPqL-ibikw_j63CJccM1vcjVOk7Fs-d_UvWDhl

‘Intensive Care: True Stories of Healing, Heartache and Hope from Inside Irish Children’s Medicine’ by paediatric consultant anaesthesiologist and intensivist Dr Suzanne Crowe – buy here - https://booksupstairs.ie/product/intensive-care-true-stories-of-healing-heartache-and-hope-from-inside-irish-childrens-medicine/

Beano Magazine – Denis The Mennis has an anaesthetic - https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2025-11/Beano2025web.pdf

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

CHI – Children’s Health Ireland

ICU – Intensive Care Unit

GP – General Practitioner

Sats – Oxygen saturation

CO₂ – Carbon dioxide

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the PAAC team focuses on the role of The Pain Team in managing your pain after surgery with guest speakers Dr Aine O Gara -consultant in Pain Medicine - and Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist Lynn O Donnell. They explain how specialists use techniques such as epidurals, nerve blocks, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), alongside oral and IV medications, to provide individualized pain relief. Patients are encouraged to communicate openly about their pain, side effects, and previous medication use to ensure effective treatment. This episode highlights the importance of pain control for optimum recovery, including mobility and breathing exercises, and outlines how to manage pain in hospital and at home.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

PCA – Patient-Controlled Analgesia

GP – General Practitioner

IV – Intravenous

Pre-op - pre-operative

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Ms Rebecca Weedle, Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist Dr Lauren O Callaghan and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Stephie Keating guide listeners through the most common types of lung surgeries and what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Beginning in the surgical out patient department, to the thoracic pre-assessment clinic, to theatre and recovery, this episode offers a step by step guide to all patients and their families on this journey. Tune into this episode to her expert advice including the best tips.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Visit Quit.ie here.

Visit the Irish Cancer Society here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

CT – Computed Tomography (scan)

PET CT – Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography

ECG – Electrocardiogram

CPET – Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test

IV – Intravenous

PCA – Patient-Controlled Analgesia

ECHO - Echocardiogram

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the team explains what to expect when having heart surgery. Listeners are guided through the journey from consultation, pre-assessment, hospital admission, surgery involving a heart-lung machine and specialist teams. Recovery begins in ICU, with early movement encouraged with an average hospital stay of about a week. Patients receive follow-up care and cardiac rehabilitation to support recovery. Patient Dave highlights that while surgery is major, it is manageable and that preparation, support and patience are key to a successful recovery.

Tune into this episode to hear expert advice from Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Mr Saleem Jahengeer, Consultant Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist Dr Lauren O Callaghan and Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Jacinta Flynn.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Visit Quit.ie here.

Abbreviations:

PAAC – Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

ECG – Electrocardiogram

PFTs – Pulmonary Function Tests

ICU – Intensive Care Unit

IV – Intravenous

TOE – Transesophageal Echocardiogram

GP – General Practitioner

ECHO -  Echocardiogram

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 4’s first episode of Operation Preparation, welcomes guest expert Prof. Ellen O Sullivan and airway fellow Dr Robbie Hollingsworth to explain ‘Awake Intubation’, a procedure where a breathing tube is placed using a flexible camera, before a patient is put fully to sleep for surgery.

The episodes explains in detail why this technique can be sometimes necessary and includes an interview with patient Eamon on his account of having an Awake Intubation.

For more information:

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. Visit the PAAC webpage here and the

 St James's Hospital website here.

To watch a video of an Awake Intubation, click here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected].

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 10th episode in ‘Operation Preparation’ helps to clarify for listeners the difference between the types of ‘lines and tubes’ used to help monitor and keep patients safe during and after their surgery. Waking up to an abundance of these different lines and tubes can be overwhelming and cause anxiety. This episode aims to clarify the reasons why these different ‘lines and tubes’ are necessary and help prepare future patients.

Find a video of ‘lines and tubes’ here: https://vimeo.com/1078288157

For more information: Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website: www.stjames.ie/operationpreparation

Email us questions/topics you would like us to cover here at; [email protected].

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Visit our PAAC page: Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic | St James's Hospital

St James' Hospital Website: https://www.stjames.ie

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

IV – Intravenous

ECG – Electrocardiogram

NG – Nasogastric

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray.

Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest speakers Consultant Surgeon in Upper Gastro-Intestinal Surgery, Ms Claire Donohoe and Clinical Nurse Specialist Jenny Moore talk about two major operations - oesophagectomy and gastrectomy - surgeries to remove part or all of the oesophagus (food pipe) or stomach. These are complex but carefully planned procedures, carried out by a specialist surgical team to treat conditions like cancer of the oesophagus or stomach. They guide you through what happens before, during, and after surgery, why these operations are done and how they help, what the surgery involves, what to expect on the day and how your team keeps you safe and comfortable in theatre and after your surgery.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

CT scan: computed tomography scan 

ECG: Electrocardiography

ECHO: echocardiogram

GI: gastro-intestinal 

ICU: intensive care unit

PET CT: Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explains how anaesthesia is safely used during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and other surgeries during pregnancy. Guest speakers consultant anaesthesiologist Dr Noelle Healy and Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Raji Dominic, from the Coombe Hospital Dublin, describe the different types of anaesthesia — including epidurals, spinal blocks, and general anaesthesia - and how each is chosen to suit the mother’s and baby’s needs. The discussion covers what to expect before, during, and after anaesthesia, how comfort and safety are maintained, and the role of the anaesthetic team in supporting both mother and baby throughout the process.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

See here if you're preparing for Caesarean birth. 

Visit the Coombe Pre-Assessment Clinic,

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected]

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

C Section: Caesarean Section 

ID: identification 

PCA: patient controlled analgesia

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode takes you behind the doors of the Intensive Care Unit - a place that can seem daunting, but is designed for your safety and recovery. Guest speakers consultant anaesthesiologist Carrie Murphy and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Louise Mullen explain what the ICU is, who might need to be there, and what kind of care and monitoring happens around the clock. They’ll also share tips for patients and families on how to prepare, communicate with staff, and look after themselves during this time.

For more information: 

Check out the Operation Preparation ‘Steps For A Stronger Start’ website here, where transcripts of this episode can be found. You can visit the PAAC webpage here and the St James's Hospital website here.

Email the team with questions/topics you would like us to cover here at [email protected].

Abbreviations:

PAAC: Pre Anaesthetic Assessment Clinic

GP: General Practitioner

ICU: Intensive Care Unit

This podcast is for general guidance and information only. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Music created and recorded by Niall Malone & Mikey Murray. Recording & Sound Production by Kevin at Philtrum Pictures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.