Patient safety is the ultimate aim of the handover process, and must always be borne in mind.

Even before it is time to hand over, you may wish to communicate with the recovery team before the case finishes. Examples include: asking for the blood products to be ready to transfuse for a potentially unstable patient, inotropic agents drawn up or PCA pump set up ready for use. It is helpful to warn the recovery team of the approximate time of your arrival.

Before leaving the theatre, ensure that all the equipment for transfer (such as an oxygen cylinder or C-circuit) is checked.

On arrival into recovery: THINK SAFETY

Clear roles help to improve efficiency and teamworking. For example, the anaesthetist should maintain the airway and ensure adequate ventilation whilst the ODP and the recovery nurse change over the equipment and monitoring used for transfer. Only when these are done, and the team is happy that the patient is safe should the verbal handover take place.