Fellowship posts should be identified to allow additional training for those who wish to follow a career in thoracic anaesthesia to help ensure there are adequate numbers of skilled anaesthetists in the specialty. These should be suitable for trainees who wish to take time out of training programmes, or for those who are post certificate of completion of training. Such...
Scheduled lists that are planned to take longer than three sessions (e.g. where a patient requires prolonged time in theatre) must be staffed appropriately to ensure that no single anaesthetist works longer than three elective sessions. Adequate rest periods during sessions must be provided. 31, 32, 33
All anaesthetists and anaesthetic assistants as well as ODPs should receive systematic training in the use of new regional anaesthesia equipment. Provision and receipt of training should be clearly documented. Staff should not use regional anaesthesia equipment unless appropriately trained. There should be a suitable induction policy for new staff and when new equipment is introduced, with a record of...
The Gold Guide’s latest guidance suggests that any trainee can apply for LTFT training (including those not yet in post but who have received an offer) provided they have a ‘well-founded individual reason’. In Yorkshire and Humber Deanery, the number of anaesthetic/ICM LTFT trainees has nearly tripled in the last five years. We anticipate LTFT numbers increasing in the future as more trainees seek better work–life balance. Training Programme Directors (TPDs) are encouraged to slot-share LTFT trainees, as this decreases gaps in rotas and continues to maintain recruitment (as LTFT training prolongs training pro-rata). This is important as the RCoA estimates that there will be a shortfall of 11,000 anaesthetists by 2040. If not slot-shared, a solo LTFT trainee does reduced sessions in a single FT slot.
Standards of accommodation for doctors in training should be adhered to.29 Where a consultant or other autonomously practising anaesthetist is required to be resident, on-call accommodation should be provided.29
Many procedures do not have to be performed out of hours.32 Anaesthetists and surgeons together should devise departmental protocols for the handling of patients requiring urgent procedures, to allow prioritisation from both surgical and anaesthetic perspectives.
The RCoA and Association of Anaesthetists currently do not support enhanced roles for AAs until the statutory regulation for AAs is in place. Where such role enhancement exists or is proposed, responsibility should be defined by local governance arrangements.3
Trauma and orthopaedic surgery should be included in anaesthetic departmental audit programmes, including ongoing audit of complications and adverse events. The trauma anaesthetists should have provision in their job plan to attend trauma MDT meetings for discussion regarding high risk patients.
