I have an appointment to see anaesthetist on the 30th September. They've already given me that bottle wash thingy to use before I go in so I'm assuming this side of Christmas. I could be wrong of course.
We don't see the anaesthetist until surgery day here. We get a nurse appointment a week or so before where we get all health checks done (BP etc), we also have to fill in questionnaires about medications and allergies which is then given to the anaesthetist to peruse.
The last time I had surgery I went to see the nurse for pre op assesment about a week beforehand but strangely I have an appointment in oupatients and the upper gastro team with Anethatist hand written next to it.