Bulletin Magazine: Winter 2026

Enjoy the first issue of 2026: your quarterly membership magazine. 

Read here

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.
New exams panel

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
With over 26,000 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

Plan launched to drive NHS Scotland productivity
Ahead of the Scottish elections in May and to address NHS challenges, The Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) has set out an evidence-based plan to transform surgical care across Scotland in its manifesto Unlocking NHS productivity in Scotland: CPOC Manifesto 2026.

Perioperative care key to reducing surgery deaths
A new UK-wide research study has found high-risk patients account for nearly 80% of post-surgery deaths, highlighting the need for open conversations and more tailored care.

Professor Iain Moppett awarded the Webb Johnson Oration
We are delighted to announce that Professor Iain Moppett has been awarded the joint RCoA/RCSEng Webb Johnson Oration, which he will deliver later this year.

Upcoming events

Anaesthesia 2026
Our Anaesthesia 2026 flagship conference will take place in Brighton and online in May 2026 for three days.

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

Become a member