About us

The UKCPA Handbook of Perioperative Medicines aims to standardise the management of medication during the perioperative period by providing evidence-based advice and guidance for healthcare professionals.

These clinicians are responsible for the care of patients undergoing surgical procedures, while supporting patient-centred care. It is a free-to-access online resource.  

The guidance development is led by:

• Sarah Tinsley, Advanced Clinical Lead Pharmacist, Division of Surgery, Anaesthetics and Critical Care at University Hospitals of North Midlands
• Claire Frank, Lead Pre-operative Assessment Pharmacist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

All information provided within the Handbook has been researched and written by pharmacist members of the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association with expertise in managing medicines perioperatively. All content is reviewed prior to publication by an anaesthetist or relevant specialist healthcare professional to ensure accuracy and practicality of the application of the information. A full list of contributors can be found here.

All the content of the Handbook is under a schedule of regular review. The frequency of review is between one and five years, depending on the medication, in order to allow for more contentious or complex medications to be reviewed more regularly. If new guidelines, position statements or evidence prompts an earlier review, this is highlighted in a banner at the top of the page. 

The Handbook is endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, The Preoperative Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and is supported by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC). The Handbook has also been recommended as a useful resource by the NHS Getting It Right First Time Preoperative assessment service guidance.

All reasonable precautions have been taken by the contributors to verify the content published in this Handbook. The ultimate responsibility for the use of advice mentioned in the Handbook and in the interpretation of published material lies with the practitioner; the contributors, editors and publishers can accept no liability whatsoever in respect of any claim for damages arising therefrom. Please inform the contributors of any issues via the contact page.