Departments should consider having flexibility in the day-to-day rota so that there are more anaesthetists working in a clinical area, such as a theatre suite, than there are procedures being carried out to ensure that this cover is always immediately available. The size of the additional staffing resource is dependent on the number of anaesthetic procedures underway simultaneously and the...
The department should positively encourage an overt culture of seeking support regardless of grade if working solo, or if a second opinion or some practical help would improve the situation. There should be transparent, robust systems to support this culture.38
All patients requiring anaesthesia, pain management or perioperative medical or critical care should have a named and documented supervisory autonomously practising anaesthetist (see Glossary) who has overall responsibility for the care of the patient.
At all times trainees should be supervised at an appropriate level (1-4) of sessional supervision, which varies depending on both the level of the trainee, including their stage of training, their previous experience and capability, and the case or cases for which they are being supervised.40
At all times SAS anaesthetists who are not autonomously practising anaesthetists should be supervised at an appropriate level(1-4) of sessional supervision, varying depending on both their level, including their previous experience and capability, and the case or cases for which they are being supervised doing.37,41,42
AAs should be supervised in accordance with the scope of practice published by the RCoA.43
Sessional supervisors should know who they are supervising, where their supervisees are and their clinical activity.37
