Anaesthesia led sedation for dressing changes should take place in rooms equipped with monitoring, piped medical gases, scavenging (where needed), suction, means of ventilation and drug infusion pumps.48
Access to a high dependency unit for patients undergoing reconstructive surgery should be available.49
Transfer times between the procedure room and critical care should be minimised. In new buildings, this may be achieved by having theatres, the critical care unit and radiological facilities within close proximity and preferably on the same floor. An integrated approach should be taken when planning new facilities.29
Post-anaesthetic recovery facilities with appropriately trained staff and equipment should be available for elective and non-elective procedures.26
There should be same-day availability of ultrasound investigations, including echocardiography.
Neuroradiology support should be available 24/7 for interpretation of neuroimaging.
In hospitals with a dedicated neuroanaesthesia service dedicated neurology input should be available.
Online imaging results from referring hospitals and within the neuroscience centre should be available locally, and consideration should be given to the provision of remote access for all anaesthetists who provide cover to neuroanaesthesia out of hours.
There should be onsite laboratory provision or near-patient testing for blood gases, serum electrolytes, platelet function assay (if available), activated clotting time and viscoelastic haemostatic assays to allow safe management of patients in the operating theatre and angiography suite.24
Rapid access to other biochemical and haematological investigations and blood transfusion should be provided.25
