Search

The emergency team should be led by an autonomously practising anaesthetist (see Glossary) and include other healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of anaesthesia for emergency surgery, including other departments such as radiology, medicine and emergency departments.³  Hospitals should consider developing teams of anaesthetists, surgeons and perioperative physicians with particular interest and expertise in high-risk emergency surgery.⁹⁰

A ‘block room’ utilising a parallel processing method is a cost-effective model for providing regional anaesthesia in a theatre environment. Staffing numbers may be determined locally depending on how many beds are in the block room but there should be sufficient numbers of trained staff to both assist the anaesthetist and monitor patients. Staffing in the block room should be...

All anaesthetists, AAs and anaesthetic assistants should receive systematic training in the use of new equipment. This should be clearly documented.¹⁴¹ Anaesthetists should not use equipment unless they have been trained to use it and are competent to do so. The NHS Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts and Healthcare Improvement Scotland require that hospitals ensure all personnel are trained...

Hospitals should consider appointing a lead anaesthetist for diabetes.

Burns anaesthetists should have access to and knowledge of nasendoscopy.

Hospitals should consider appointing a lead anaesthetist for diabetes.

Specific local policies pertinent to trauma and orthopaedic surgery should be developed by a multidisciplinary team including an anaesthetist, acute pain nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, critical care clinicians, surgeons and other relevant specialties.⁹

All patients undergoing anaesthesia should be under the care of an autonomously practising anaesthetist whose name is recorded as part of the anaesthetic record.^4,95

Anaesthetists who work regularly within the radiology department should be issued with personal dosimeters by their employer to monitor their radiation exposure and to ensure that levels remain within statutory dose limits.⁵⁸