Authors

• Dr Anna Greenwood, ST7 Anaesthetics, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Dr Sue Walwyn, Consultant Anaesthetist, Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust; Regional Advisor West Yorkshire
• Dr Joe Lipton, Consultant Anaesthetist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust;
• RCoA Lead for Assessment Anaesthetics Curriculum Development and Assurance Group

The concept of entrustment is as ancient as apprenticeship. Anaesthetists reeling from the effects of the pandemic are adjusting to the logistics of the new curriculum, and with it a paradigm shift in workplace-based assessment. 

Cynics may well have thought that it is all a rebranding exercise, yet it is a considered outcomes-based holistic approach to training. The old ‘tick-box’ process has been replaced by qualitative faculty judgements of capability, anchored to more clearly articulated learning outcomes. Progression is explicitly framed around increasing practice autonomy through ‘entrustment’ of responsibility for patient care. Entrustment-based assessment moves beyond the spiral curriculum and being ‘good enough’, replaced instead by promotion of the ideal of an excellent all-round professional anaesthetist.