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From the Editor: January 2023

A new year signals a new Editor for the Bulletin, and it gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the January 2023 edition. As I write this, the UK’s NHS is experiencing winter pressures, nurse strike action seems imminent, purple seems the new black in terms of hospital bed status, and elective surgical recovery targets seem an insurmountable challenge.

From the Editor: October 2023

Dr Ramai Santhirapala, Editor of the Bulletin, welcomes you to our first digital-only version and tells us why turning problems into innovative solutions is the very essence of this issue.

Keeping it cool: working as a pilgrim doctor in a mass gathering

Dr Omar Khan attends the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Due to the combined effects of extreme heat and huge crowds, he considers the responsibility of medical professionals to help when they're just bystanders.

Approximately two million people attend the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia every year. The journey is obligatory for those who have the physical and financial means, once in a lifetime. The pilgrimage lasts five days and is based in and around the city of Makkah.

The climate is one of a hot desert with day temperatures regularly exceeding 45ºC (113ºF) during the summer. This is made all the tougher with average relative humidity reaching 33%. Pilgrims travel from around the world. They include all ages and backgrounds, and individuals with complex medical conditions.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to attend this year. My journey began like any other pilgrim’s, initially solely focusing on the religious events ahead. The first few days went as planned, with challenging walks, but nothing more than I had physically and mentally prepared for. Things however changed as the days went on and as the weather deteriorated. I cannot emphasise enough the combined effects of extreme heat and huge crowds. Despite an umbrella to keep one out of direct sunlight and copious amounts of water consumption, heat exhaustion is relatively common. I was also soon to learn that heat stroke was becoming dangerously frequent during my time there. As anaesthetists, our challenge is often to keep patients undergoing major surgery warm. As I entered my hotel lobby, my job was to do the opposite and help cool my fellow pilgrims down!

Multidisciplinary simulation in airway management

Dr Hooper, ST8 Anaesthesia and ICM at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire shows us how multidisciplinary simulation in airway management constitutes a remarkable step forward in enhancing patient safety.

Airway management is a crucial aspect of patient care, where effective and prompt actions can be life saving. The RCoA recognises the importance of continuous education and training to ensure healthcare professionals are well equipped to handle complex airway scenarios.

Multidisciplinary simulation has arisen as a valuable tool in this regard, offering an immersive and dynamic learning experience that fosters collaboration among different professionals involved in patient care.

Traditionally, training in airway management has often been siloed, with the focus on individual disciplines. However, real-life situations demand a coordinated effort from various healthcare professionals, including anaesthetists, operating department practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, surgeons and theatre nurses. Therefore, conventional training styles may not adequately prepare individuals for the intricacies of interdisciplinary communication and cooperation.