Search

The lead obstetric anaesthetist should be responsible for the overall delivery of the service, including:

• ensuring that evidence based guidelines and protocols are in use and are up to date
• monitoring staff training
• workforce planning
• service risk management
• ensuring that national specifications are met
• auditing the service against agreed standards, including anaesthetic complication rates, as set out in the RCoA ...

Information provided postoperatively should include the safe use of analgesia after surgery and discharge from hospital, and what to do and who to contact in the event of a problem or concern. This should include telephone numbers where advice may be sought 24 hours a day.

Anaesthesia departments should have a nominated anaesthetist immediately available (see Glossary) and free from direct clinical responsibilities to provide cover in clinical emergencies, as well as providing advice and support to other anaesthetists.⁴¹

All local anaesthetic solutions should be stored in a separate storage unit from intravenous infusion solutions, to reduce the risk of accidental intravenous administration of such medication.^160,165

The anaesthetic department should have a comprehensive and collaborative programme of engagement with QI initiatives locally, including audit of local guidelines and SOPs and improvements made following learning from incidents or near misses.¹⁰²

Local anaesthetic drugs should be stored separately from intravenous drugs and other infusion bags to reduce the risk of accidental intravenous administration of such medication.^21,22