External resources

Blood Transfusion Information for Patients

The Patient Information section of the National Blood Transfusion Service.
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Care Quality Commission (CQC)

An independent regulator of all health and social care services in England.
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Dr Foster

The UK's leading provider of comparative information on health and social care services.
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Healthtalk Online

Reliable health information from patients, for patients.
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NHS Choices

Provides an excellent introduction into the work of anaesthetists within the NHS.  An outline of the different types of anaesthetics, the complications involved and what happens to a patient after surgery.
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Patient Opinion

Founded in 2005 and is now the UK's leading independent non-profit feedback platform for health services.
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Patient UK

Provides information (written in association with the RCoA) for a non-medical audience.
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Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS Eng)

Information regarding different types of surgery and your recovery after an operation.
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Age Anaesthesia Association

The Association promotes evidence based, high quality perioperative care for all elderly surgical patients.
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Association for Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care (ACTACC)

Promotes the highest standard of management and care for patients suffering from cardiothoracic disorders, and in particular those undergoing cardiac or thoracic surgery.
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Association of Dental Anaesthesia (ADA)

The Association aims to further the art and science of anaesthesia and sedation for dentistry and to provide a forum for discussion..
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Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (APAGBI)

The aims of the Association are to promote high standards in the specialty through education and research and they advise other professional bodies on anaesthesia for children.
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British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society (BOAS)

An organisation of anaesthetists, ophthalmologists and other clinicians committed to sharing education and information which will enable them to provide the highest level of anaesthetic management during ophthalmic surgery.
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Difficult Airway Society (DAS)

Information about what the airway is and what anaesthetists need to do to help your breathing during an operation.
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Intensive Care Society (ICS)

Useful information for patients and relatives about being on intensive care, what will happen, what support you will get and how as a relative you can help.
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LabourPains.com

For expectant parents, midwives and healthcare professionals.
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Neuro Anaesthesia and Critical Care Society of Great Britain and Ireland (NACCS)

The Society promotes the advancement of education for the public benefit in the science of neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care.
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Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA)

Promotes the highest standards of anaesthetic practice in the care of mother and baby.
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Resuscitation Council (UK)

The Council promotes high-quality, scientific, resuscitation guidelines that are applicable to everybody, and to contribute to saving life through education, training, research and collaboration. 
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Regional Anaesthesia (UK)

RA-UK is the UK division of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia. Please see their website for an information video for patients on nerve blocks. 
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Society for Obesity and Bariatric Surgery (SOBA)

Information about the risks of surgery if you are overweight or obese and what you can do to reduce these risks before an operation.
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Society for Anaesthetists in Radiology (SAR)

The Society aims to promote safety and optimize the quality of anaesthesia provided to adults and children undergoing procedures involving radiological imaging.
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Vascular Anaesthesia Society of Great Britain and Ireland (VASGBI)

Provides a forum to promote communication and understanding among anaesthetists who care for patients undergoing vascular surgery.
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Caudal Analgesia

This leaflet aims to provide information for parents of children who may benefit from a caudal block to provide pain relief during and after surgery.
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Mastocytosis and Anaesthesia

A leaflet for patients with mastocytosis who are preparing to have an anaesthetic. This leaflet will also be useful to anaesthetists and other health professionals who would like an update on safe anaesthesia practice for patients with mastocytosis.
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Your Anaesthetic for Heart Surgery

This leaflet describes the care that you will be given before, during and after your operation.
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Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM)

The Faculty of Pain Medicine has produced some patient information leaflets on medications and interventions commonly used to treat persistent pain. 
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