The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report 2024

The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report provides a comprehensive overview of the anaesthetic workforce, including training, retention and future projections. We also set out the urgent actions that are needed.    

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Welcome to the Royal College of Anaesthetists

Anaesthesia is the largest single hospital specialty in the NHS. We are the professional body responsible for the specialty throughout the UK.

We're here to support your needs. Find out more about:

Find out more about what we do

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Training and careers
We're responsible for setting recruitment, training and assessment standards. This is how we're able to attract and then support the best doctors from medical schools.
Final FRCA Examinations

Examinations
The Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) examination tests the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes required by anaesthetists in training.
Simulation training in anaesthesia

Research
The College supports the funding, development and delivery of high quality healthcare research.

Ways you can support our work

Membership

Membership
We are the third largest medical royal college in the UK by membership. With 24,000 Fellows and Members, we represent the three specialties of anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.
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Resources
We keep our fellows and members up-to-date with the latest news from the College and specialty via the Bulletin and regular newsletters as well as providing free access to key academic journals.
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Get involved
We thrive because of our strong and active membership. As we're keen to involve you in our work to help shape future strategy, we've created numerous volunteering roles for fellows and members within the College.

Latest news

RCoA position on assisted dying/assisted suicide
Following consideration of a member survey on assisted dying/assisted suicide, Council has taken the decision to change the College’s position on assisted dying/assisted suicide from ‘no stance’ to ‘neutral’, on the basis that a neutral position more closely aligns with the views of a majority of respondents.

Response to announcement of review of PAs and AAs
We are pleased to see the Government taking action to address the questions our members have been raising for some time by commissioning an independent review of Physician and Anaesthesia Associate Professions.  

Patients miss out as anaesthetist shortage grows
The Anaesthetic Workforce: UK State of the Nation Report 2024 reveals the growing shortage of anaesthetists is limiting the ability of the NHS to reduce patient waiting lists, as the UK lags behind the rest of Europe in anaesthetic staffing levels.

Upcoming events

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Anaesthesia 2025
Our Anaesthesia 2025 flagship conference will take place in Belfast and online in May 2025 for three days.
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Winter Symposium 2024
Attend our two-day annual winter symposium to connect with experts in anaesthesia and enjoy a lively mix of lectures, debates and awards. Join us in London or online.

Membership provides a variety of benefits to both you as an individual member, but also to the specialty of anaesthesia.

Become a member