Multidisciplinary team (MDT) for surgery

An anaesthetist is a doctor who gives anaesthetic drugs and monitors you while you are sedated or asleep. They may also assess you before surgery to make sure that you are safe to have an anaesthetic. They monitor you while you recover from the anaesthetic. Anaesthetists also give pain medication. They are often the doctor who cares for people in intensive care units.

An operating department practitioner supports you before, during and after your surgery in the operating department (theatre). They get all the operating equipment ready. They assist the surgeon and anaesthetist by providing them with help and equipment during the surgery. They may also look after you in the recovery unit until you are ready to be moved to the hospital ward.

A radiologist is a doctor who looks at scans and x-rays to diagnose problems. X-rays and scans are important in helping the surgeon plan the surgery. Interventional radiologists use scans to help them take biopsies for diagnosis, or to give treatments such as ablation and embolisation.

A clinical oncologist is a doctor who uses radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs to treat people with cancer.

A medical oncologist is a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs to treat people with cancer.

You may meet with a physiotherapist during your treatment. They can give advice about exercise and mobility. They can help and support you to get out of bed and move around safely after surgery.

Physiotherapists help with your recovery and can help prevent long-term problems. For example, they may give you exercises to help prevent lymphoedema if your surgery included removal of lymph nodes, or bladder problems if you have had prostate surgery.

You may meet with an occupational therapist during your treatment. Occupational therapists give information, support and aids to help people with tasks such as washing and dressing. They can visit your home, offer advice and support, and provide equipment. They can help if you have difficulty moving around or doing activities such as housework, dressing, washing and cooking.

A dietitian gives information and advice about food and food supplements. If you have surgery to the mouth, throat, stomach or bowel, you may need to change your eating patterns.

Some people who have bladder or bowel surgery may need a stoma. This is an opening in the tummy (abdominal) wall that pee (urine) or stools (poo) pass out from. Your surgeon will talk to you about this before surgery. A stoma care nurse gives information and support to people who have a stoma. They will continue to support you after you go home. They can help you cope with any problems.

A speech and language therapist gives information and support to people who have problems talking and swallowing. They can help if you have difficulties talking, eating or drinking after some types of surgery. For example, this could be if you have had surgery for a head and neck cancer.

You may meet a pharmacist in the hospital. Pharmacists give out medicines and give advice about taking medicines. They know how medicines work, which ones can be safely taken together and possible side effects.

Social workers can help sort out practical and financial problems. They can offer practical and financial help.

You may need help from a counsellor or psychologist to help you manage your feelings. Counsellors are trained to listen to people’s problems and help them find ways to cope. They will not give advice or answers, but they can help you find your own ways to solve problems. A psychologist gives advice about managing feelings and behaviours. They can help you look at these thoughts and behaviours and find ways to cope.

Some changes after surgery can be difficult to cope with. This can happen if a part of the body is removed, you develop scarring or your speech changes.

These changes can affect your body image. If you feel that speaking to a counsellor or psychologist would be helpful, talk to your doctor or specialist nurse. They can usually arrange this.