Search

If a patient is transferred to the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) with a tracheal tube in place, the anaesthetist remains responsible for the removal of the tube but may delegate its removal. Delegation should be to an appropriately trained member of the PACU staff who is prepared to accept this delegated responsibility.⁴

The preoperative assessment and decisions regarding the risks of vascular surgery are often complex and time consuming, and require detailed discussions with the patient and other colleagues. Patients undergoing major vascular surgery should ideally be assessed by a vascular anaesthetist. Regular sessional time and programmed activities should be made available for anaesthetists to fulfil these requirements.²²

The preoperative assessment and decisions regarding the risks of vascular surgery are often complex and time consuming, and require detailed discussions with the patient and other colleagues. Patients undergoing major vascular surgery should ideally be assessed by a vascular anaesthetist. Regular sessional time and programmed activities should be made available for anaesthetists to fulfil these requirements.¹²

Structured training in regional anaesthesia should be provided to all anaesthetists in training and any other anaesthetists who wish to learn any of these techniques. The training should include an understanding of the relevant anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, ultrasound physics, non-technical skills and the prevention and management of complications. Part-task trainers may be used to improve practical skills.⁴⁸

The duty anaesthetist should participate in MDT delivery suite handovers and ward rounds.^24,27

All children and young people should be assessed before their operation by an anaesthetist. Parents and carers, as well as the child, should be given the opportunity to ask questions and to be involved in the physical and psychological preparation for surgery.

Anaesthetists who primarily work on the labour ward during the night should be given opportunities to work on the labour ward during the daytime on weekdays.²⁵