Hypnotherapy and the anxious patient
In this episode of Anaesthesia on Air Jenny Westaway, Chair of Patient Voices at RCoA, hosts a fascinating discussion with Dr Jane Boissiere, Dr Samantha Black, and Dr Paul Slater about Hypnotherapy in Anaesthesia. They discuss misunderstanding and misinformation around clinical hypnosis and the benefits of its use to help patient anxiety.
Alongside this podcast is an interview with Dr Allan Cyna, where he explains hypnocommunication and the nocebo effect, especially in paediatric anaesthesia.
Links and resources:
Chair of PatientsVoices@RCoA
Jenny started her career in communications, working in local newspapers; charity policy and campaigns on issues such as gender equality and homelessness; in public involvement engagement to enable people to influence decision makers. Jenny moved into the health and care sector through working on media and public understanding of how data can be used to improve health, care and services in ways that are safe, in line with public expectation and demonstrably trustworthy.
This led her to work for the National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care, where she headed up the office supporting this statutory post until 2021. Jenny has also worked for the Department of Health and Social Care leading on strategy and ethics for its information risk management directorate.
Former GP & SAS Psychiatrist, President @BSCAH1 Council member.
Consultant Paediatric and Perioperative Anaesthetist and RCoA Patient Information Lead
Consultant Anaesthetist at Northampton General Hospital. Paul was part of creating a digital self-help hypnosis program made available by Northampton Hospital.
Consultant Anaesthetist, Clinical Senior Lecturer and author.