New guidance on autonomy and progression for SAS anaesthetists

The Royal College of Anaesthetists has published new guidance to support Specialty and Specialist (SAS) anaesthetists in demonstrating clinical autonomy and progressing in their careers. 

Who is this for? 

This guidance is aimed at SAS doctors, who make up a significant proportion of the permanent anaesthetic workforce.  

The 2021 reform of the specialty doctor grade introduced a framework for career progression. It also established the Specialist grade, allowing specialist anaesthetists to be formally recognised as autonomously practising doctors, within a locally defined scope of practice. 

This guidance helps SAS doctors understand what clinical autonomy means in practice, how to evidence it, and how to gain formal recognition within their departments. 

What’s included?  

• Guidance on building a personal professional portfolio, with examples of the evidence required to demonstrate clinical autonomy.
• Steps to gaining formal recognition of autonomous practice.
• A generic person specification for the Specialist Doctor in Anaesthesia, to help map and collate evidence against the specialist grade appointment framework. 

The guidance reinforces our commitment to empowering and supporting SAS anaesthetists and recognising the critical role they play in delivering high-quality anaesthetic care across the NHS.