Anaesthesia 2025

Our Anaesthesia 2025 flagship conference will take place in Belfast in May 2025 for three days. There is also an option for those that prefer to join us online. 

37 days left

Key details

Date: 20 to 22 May 2025

Location: Belfast, and Online - ICC Belfast

Availability: Places available

Clinical content lead(s): Dr Sri Gummaraju, Dr Paul Southall, Dr Will Donaldson, Dr Rosie Hogg

CPD credits: 15 anticipated

Our Anaesthesia 2025 flagship conference will take place in Belfast and online in May 2025 for three days.

The theme for this years conference is 'impact'

Topics will include:

  • Human factors
  • Perioperative care
  • Regional anaesthesia
  • Balancing risks
  • Airway
  • Patients with additional communication needs
  • Impact of clinical anaesthesia
  • The troubles in Northern Ireland
     

All conference materials and lectures will be available on demand to delegates after the event for 6 months.

Please note that you are able to attend a mix of both in-person and online. If this is something you'd like to book, please give us a call on 020 7092 1673.

 

Feedback from last years event:

'Really inspiring, well organised and thought provoking for those interested in anaesthetics!'

'Excellent Course for a busy Anaesthetist'

'Well run, informative talks and excellent speakers' 

'Excellent conference with discussion of relevant topics and advances in practice'

'It was very informative, and I was always both excited and entertained by the speakers.'

 

How to Find Us

ICC Belfast

2 Lanyon Pl

Belfast

BT1 3WH

08:45-09:30 REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS  
09:25-09:30 Online platform opens - technical checks  
09:30-09:35 Introduction & Presidents update Dr Claire Shannon, President, Royal College of Anaesthetists
09:35-09:45 Welcome from Visit Belfast Ms Beth Murphy, Visit Belfast Representative
09:45-10:05 Keynote lecture Mr Mike Nesbitt, Minister of Health for Northern Ireland
10:05-10:10 Q&A  
Session 1: Quick fire updates
10:10-10:30 Neuro - Nociception Monitoring Professor Anil Hormis Consultant Anaesthetist, Rotherham 
10:30-10:50 Paediatric regional anaesthesia    Dr Branislav Mislovic, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthesiologist, Ireland 
10:50-11:10 Mechanical thrombectomy Dr Rebecca Campbell, Consultant Paediatric and Adult Neuroanaesthesia , London
11:10-11:25 Q&A  
11:25-11:45 REFRESHMENTS  
Session 2: Quality Improvement in 2025: Curriculum, Training and Collaboration
11:45-12:10 Talk title TBC Dr Samantha Warnakulasuriya, Consultant Anaesthetist, London
12:10-12:35 Talk title TBC Dr Brian McCloskey, Director of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, Ireland
12:35-12:45 Q&A  
12:45-13:45 LUNCH AND NETWORKING  
13:15-13:40

General Medical Council Sponsored lunch session: 

Good medical practice – challenging workplace behaviours and cultures

Mr Chris Lawlor, Senior Liaison Adviser

In person only

Session 3: Human Factors
13:40-14:05 Hewitt lectureship – Human Factors  Dr Helen Higham, Consultant Anaesthetist, Oxford
14:05-14:30 Human Factors in theatres - a surgical perspective Mr James Thomlinson, Consultant Spinal Surgeon, Sheffield
14:30-14:55 Impact of Human Factors Ms Fran Ives, Chartered Human Factors Specialist, Health Innovation West Midlands 
14:55-15:10 Q&A  
15:10-15:30 REFRESHMENTS  
15.15-15.30 MTI/SAS Doctors networking In person only
Boardroom 1
Session 4: Impact of Clinical Anaesthesia
15:30-15:55 RA & NAP8 Dr Alan MacFarlane, Consultant Anaesthetist, Glasgow
15:55-16:20 GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Guidance and Practice Professor Kariem El-Boghdadly, Consultant Anaesthetist, London 
16:20-16:30 Q&A  
16:30-17:00 Panel - 'Imposter syndrome: friend or foe' Ms Babita Sharma 
Fiona Scott
17:00 Closing remarks  
17:00-18:00 DRINKS RECEPTION & NETWORKING  

 

*this programme is subject to change

06:45 Pre-event morning 5km run/jog/walk Meet outside ICC Belfast Riverside Concourse entrance
08:30-09:00 REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS  
08:55-09:00 Online platform opens - technical checks  
09:00-09:05 Opening remarks Dr Toni Brunning, Vice President, Royal College of Anaesthetists
09:05-09:30 Keynote lecture: Creating impact with high performance teams Mr Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Rugby Union Footballer, UK
09:30-09:35 Q&A  
09:35-11:05

Breakout Workshop Regional Anaesthesia

This workshop will run parallel with the lectures. Available in person only.

In partnership with Northern Ireland Regional Anaesthesia Society

Thank you to Sonosite/Fujifilm for providing the equipment for this workshop

Session 5: Perioperative
09:35-10:00    
10:00-10:25 Sip Til Send Prof Scarlett McNally, Deputy Director & Surgeon, Centre for Perioperative Care
10:25-10:50 CPOC: preparing for surgery, discharge and postoperative recovery Miss Claire Frank, CPOC Fellow, Wrexham
10:50-11:10 Q&A  
11:10-11:40 REFRESHMENTS  
11.10-11.40 RCoA Coffee and chat  RCoA Membership team
(In person only)
Session 6: Balancing risks
11:40-11:50  Local Anaesthetic infiltration Dr Felicity Plaat, Consultant Anaesthetist, London
11:50-12:05 Prefilled Syringes Dr Philip Barclay, Consultant Anaesthetist, London
12:05-12:30 Balancing risk in training Dr Amy Donnelly, Co-Director of Training, Ireland 
12:30-12:45 Q&A  
12:45-13:45 LUNCH AND NETWORKING  
13:45-14:30

Breakout workshops. Some workshops are limited numbers. Booking to be made in advance.

Attend first breakout session

 
  Breakout 1 (Airway) Dr Will Donaldson, Consultant Anaesthetist/Co-opted RCoA Council, Northern Ireland
Dr Damien Carson, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Michael McBrian, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Linda Mottram, Faculty Tutor, Northern Ireland 
  Breakout 2 (Pick of the Posters) Dr Jonathan Thompson, Consultant Anaesthetist, Leicester
Dr Felicity Plaat, Consultant Anaesthetist, London
  Breakout 3 (Generic Professional capabilities hub) Dr Joe Lipton, Anaesthetist, London 
Dr Joe Hogan, ACCS (Anaesthetics) CT4, Kent
Dr Hannah Headon, ST4 Anaesthetist, London
Dr Chris James, Anaesthetic Specialist Registrar, London
Dr Soumen Sen, Consultant Anaesthetist, Surrey
  Breakout 4 (Humanitarian Medicine: Dealing With The Mental Impact) Dr Elma Wong, Consultant Anaesthetist, Worcestershire
Dr Paul Maclure, Consultant Anaesthetist, Adelaide, Australia 
  Breakout 5 (Regional Anaesthesia)

In partnership with Northern Ireland Regional Anaesthesia Society

Dr Sean Shevlin, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Catherine Poots,Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Nick Black, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Ryan Sykes, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Jonathan McCarter, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Lloyd Turbitt, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr David Johnston, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Brenda Daly, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Alix Murphy, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Jacek Sobocincki, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland
Dr Joanne Tan, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland

14:30-14:40 Travel time to second workshop choice  
14:40-15:25 Attend second breakout session  
15:25-15:50 REFRESHMENTS  
Session 8: British Journal of Anaesthesia 
15:50-16:10 Pain management in people with substance use disorder Dr Patrice Forget, Clinical Chair in Anaesthesia and Honorary Consultant, Aberdeen
16:10-16:30 Top five papers of the year Dr David Hewson, Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist, Nottingham
16:30-16:55 Mapleson award lecture Dr Tom Abbott, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, London
16:55-17:05 Q&A  
17:05-17:35 Panel: Remembering the Omagh Bombing

Dr John Maginness, Retired Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland 
Mr Dominic Pinto, Retired General Surgeon, Northern Ireland 

Ms Joann McCullagh 

17:35-17:40 Q&A and Closing remarks  

 

*this programme is subject to change

 

Regional workshops are in partnership with Northern Ireland Anaesthesia Society
Thank you to Sonosite/Fujifilm for providing the equipment for this workshop

 

08:30-09:00 REGISTRATION AND REFRESHMENTS  
08:55-09:00 Online platform opens - technical checks  
09:00-09:05 Opening remarks Dr Will Donaldson, Consultant Anaesthetist/Co-opted RCoA Council, Northern Ireland 
09:05-09:30 Keynote lecture: Conscientious objection in anesthesiology/ICU care Professor Gail Van Norman, Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine,
UW Medicine, WA, USA
09:30-09:40 Q&A  
Session 9: Patients with additional communication needs
09:40-10:10 Learning from Oliver McGowan: training to help clinicians communicate more effectively   Ms Paula Kennelly, Project Coordinator and Mr Shaun Picken, Lived Experience Consultant, My Life My Choice
10:10-10:55 Panel discussion and Q&A Dr Samantha Black, Consultant anaesthetist, Kent
Ms Paula Kenney
Mr Shaun Picken
10:55-11:20 REFRESHMENTS  
11:00-11:20 Breathwork taster session
In person only
Dr James Brunning, Consultant Anaesthetist and Trust Wellbeing Lead for Medical Staff
Session 10: RCoA Centre for Research & Improvement (CR&I) 
Frailty/Delirium
11:20-11:35 CR&I Overview (latest news)  Professor Iain Moppett, Director Centre for Research & Improvement, Nottingham
11:35-11:50 Frailty/Delirium Talk one Dr Claire Swarbrick, Centre for Research & Improvement Fellow, Nottingham 
11:50-12:05 The impact of emergency laparotomy for older people living with frailty  Miss Angeline Price.  Advanced practitioner, Northern Care Alliance
12:05-12.35 Advance Care Planning: Getting it Right Professor Adam Gordon, Professor of Care of Older People, London 
12:35-12:45 Q&A  
12:50-13:25 Poster Competition  
12:50-12:55 Poster presenter 1  
12:55-13:00 Poster presenter 2  
13:00-13:05 Poster presenter 3  
13:05-13:10 Poster presenter 4  
13:10-13:15 Poster presenter 5  
13:15-13:25 Q&A  
13:25-14:25 LUNCH AND NETWORKING  
Session 11: Impact/changes in NI
14:25-14:50 Impact of EPIC implementation in NI Dr Ciara Mitchell, Consultant Anaesthetist, Northern Ireland 
14:50-15:15    
15:15-15:40 Impact of anaesthesia on sport medicine

Dr Martin Duffy, Clinical Director, Northern Ireland

Dr Chris Nutt

15:40-15:55 Q&A  
15:55-16:00 Closing remarks  

 

*this programme is subject to change

Pricing

Please note that you are able to attend a mix of both in-person and online. If this is something you'd like to book, please give us a call on 020 7092 1673.

Pricing in person Anaesthesia 2025
Pricing online Anaesthesia 2025

We are offering a fee for Low Middle Income Countries for online attendance, the cost will be £15 per day. Please email events@rcoa.ac.uk to check your eligibility.

Hybrid Events

If you would like to attend via a mix of in person and online for this event please call the Events Team on 020 7092 1673 and they can assist you with your booking and take your payment over the phone.

Pricing Terms and Conditions

Payment must be made at the time of booking unless otherwise stated. The RCoA, FICM and FPM are unable to hold places on events without payment. Credit or debit card payments must be made online via our card payment handler Stripe, or by phone. We do not accept purchase orders or raise invoices for places on our events. 

Discounts are available for some membership types at the rates stated below. You must be eligible for the discount both at the time of the booking and at the time of the event itself. We may ask for proof of your member status at any point. If you are unable to prove your entitlement to the discount we may charge you the full event rate, or invite you to update your membership status accordingly. In such a situation we may withhold access to the event until your updated payment clears, or your new membership status is confirmed.

To view the Event terms and conditions please click here.

Visit Belfast & Accommodation

Visit_Belfast
We are working with Belfast City Council and Tourism Northern Ireland on the conference support scheme. We thank them for supporting Anaesthesia 2025.

Visit Belfast

Visit Belfast have provided some links to some of the other activities taking place in Belfast.

Accommodation

The RCoA has secured preferential rates with local hotels. Please note these have not been visited by the RCoA and bookings are to be made directly with the hotel.

Hilton, Belfast

Visit Hilton website to book - 10% discount applied - Available Rooms - Hilton Belfast

Leonardo Hotels

Visit Leonardo website to book - Hotels in UK & Ireland |Hotel Deals| Leonardo Hotels

Code required: LHROYA190525

Travelodge

10% off best available rate - all rooms must be booked directly with the Hotel and include 'Anaesthesia 2025' in the subject line to secure the discount. 

Contact Hotel via email - belfast@travelodge.ie

Andras Hotels

10% discount off their best flexible rates for the following hotels. Book directly with the hotels to secure the discount.

4* Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre - 028 90 878 796 - reservations@hibelfastcitycentre.co.uk

4* Standard Hampton by Hilton Belfast City Centre - 028 90 878 793 - reservations@hbhbelfast.com

3* Holiday Inn Express Belfast City - 028 90 891 894 - reservations@hiexpressbelfast.com

3* Ibis Belfast City Centre - 028 90 891 941 - h7232-re@accor.com

Clayton Hotels

12% discount off Bed and Breakfast rates. Visit the hotel website and enter the promo code in the promotional code box at enquiry stage. Promo code valid until 6 weeks prior to arrival date. Promo code: CONF12

Clayton Hotel Belfast - 4-Star Hotel in Belfast City Centre | Clayton Hotel Belfast (claytonhotels.com)

Madron Hotel Belfast City - Luxury 4-Star Hotel in Belfast | Maldron Hotel Belfast City (maldronhotels.com)

Ramada by Wyndham Belfast

20% off best available rate - Visit the hotel website using the following link to book directly - Ramada by Wyndham Belfast City Centre | Belfast, NIR Hotels (wyndhamhotels.com)

Discount available until 28 days prior to Anaesthesia 2025.

AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast

10% discount off best available bed & breakfast rate.

Discount available until 8 weeks prior to Anaesthesia 2025. Promo code IXY.

Book using the following link: https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/bfsac-ac-hotel-belfast/overview/

Ten Square, Belfast

Visit Ten Square Hotel website to book - https://www.tensquare.co.uk/

Promotional Code required: RCA10SQ

*4-Star City Centre Hotel conveniently located across from Belfast City Hall & less than a 10 x Minute walk from ICC Belfast*

£130.00 per room, per night including Breakfast (Single Occupancy)

This rate will only be available up until Tuesday 22nd April 2025, at the very latest – so we advise guests to book early, while availability lasts.

*Free cancellation up until 24 x hours prior to your check-in date*

Alladi legacy - Bursary places

Celebrating Dr Ramana Alladi’s Legacy: Bursary Opportunities for Anaesthesia 2025

In honour of Dr Ramana Alladi, a compassionate and pioneering anaesthetist, and with the support of his family, we are pleased to offer bursaries for internationally trained anaesthetists and associated specialty doctors (SAS) in the UK and Ireland to attend Anaesthesia 2025, our flagship conference in Belfast this May.

Dr Alladi arrived in Britain in 1975, facing the challenges many overseas-trained doctors know well. He became a champion of the SAS community, dedicating his career to raising the profile of internationally trained doctors and fostering their professional growth. As he once reflected, ‘The greater the risks you take and the greater the sacrifice you make, the more successful you are.’ His commitment to perseverance and progress continues to inspire our profession today.

As a long-standing supporter of the RCoA, Dr Alladi also served on our Council, where he helped shape the College’s educational and professional standards and supported the next generation of anaesthetists.

Bursary Details:

This legacy bursary will support seven in-person delegates and 20 online attendees, covering the cost of the delegate pass. 

In-person delegates will also be invited to the conference dinner, an invitation only networking event attended by members of the RCoA Council and other influential leaders in the field. Additionally, a dedicated breakout room will be available at the conference for bursary recipients to connect and exchange ideas.

Travel and accommodation costs are not included for in-person attendees.

Criteria to apply:

  • Internationally trained anaesthetists and associated specialty doctors (SAS) or MTI doctors
  • Employed in the UK or Ireland
  • Open only to those who have not previously attended the annual conference

Recipients will be asked to share their experiences and reflections post-event to acknowledge and reflect on the bursary award.

How to apply:

Please fill in this short application form here

Extended deadline for applications: 31 March 2025

Please note applications are now open for online attendance only, the in-person places have been allocated from the original deadline. 

 

 

Poster & Video Competitions

This year we have two competitions running at Anaesthesia 2025.

1. Poster competition - If you have worked on a project which addresses the PQIP priorities, please submit a poster.

2. Video competition - new for this year, we are inviting video submissions for projects that have had an impact in the field of anaesthesia through innovative practices, research or educational initiatives.

Please scroll down for further information and a submission form. 

Video competition information

Have you been involved in a project that has had impact in the field of anaesthesia through innovative practices, research or educational initiatives? If so, make a short video to showcase your work and enter this competition.

  • The competition is looking for submissions that addresses relevant, timely topics within anaesthesia, with clear application to current clinical practices, emerging technologies, or patient safety improvements.
  • Submissions should demonstrate how the work presented has made a measurable, positive impact—whether through enhanced patient outcomes, operational improvements, or the introduction of innovative techniques or technologies that have been successfully implemented.
  • The video should clearly illustrate how the initiative has improved anaesthesia care, whether through improved patient safety, streamlined workflows, or educational advancements. It should also provide evidence of sustained or reproducible impact.
  • This competition aims to highlight work that not only pushes the boundaries of anaesthesia practice but also tangibly improves the quality and safety of care provided to patients.

 

Eligibility

The competition is open to all healthcare professionals or student healthcare professionals.

 

Prize

1st prize - £100 voucher of your choice

All accepted videos will be shared on the platform for Anaesthesia 2025 and at the venue.

 

Criteria

  • Videos should be a maximum of 3 minutes long
  • Be clear and to the point
  • Use slides or images where relevant

Technical specifications

We do check all video abstracts for quality, to make sure they are watchable. Below are our technical specifications:

  • Format: .mov, .mpg, or .mp4
  • Maximum file size: 100 MB
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9, square pixels, deinterlaced (landscape format is best)

 

How to enter

Submit your video to events@rcoa.ac.uk via wetransfer or dropbox along with a signed copy of the application form here.

 

What happens next?

The closing date for entries will be 23.59 Monday 24 March 2025.

A panel of RCoA judges will assess all submissions shortly after the closing date. Authors will be notified by Monday 14 April if they have been invited to display their video at Anaesthesia 2025.

Authors selected to present their video will need to book a place at the event in order to for it to be displayed.

 

 

Poster competition information

Theme

You are invited to submit a poster for presentation at Anaesthesia 2025, on 20-22 May.

If you have worked on a project which addresses the PQIP priorities, please submit a poster for a chance to showcase your work and to win a £250 voucher of your choice.

 

A quality improvement or research project using PQIP data and/or that addresses one of PQIP’s top five priorities for 2024/25

  • DrEaMing
  • Patient blood management
  • Individualised risk assessment including early screening and optimisation
  • Diabetes management
  • Quality improvement in PQIP

 

Eligibility

The competition is open to all healthcare professionals or student healthcare professionals.

 

Prize

1st prize: £250 voucher

All accepted posters will be invited to present their poster at the Conference and will be encouraged to submit a short video presentation which will be uploaded on our streaming platform for delegates to view.

The top 5 shortlisted posters will be invited to present as an oral presentation.
All accepted posters will also be published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia Open Access Journal, please see information below for submitting your abstract to them.

 

How to enter

  • Submit a digital copy of your poster as an attachment to events@rcoa.ac.uk along with a signed copy of the application form here
  • Please follow the poster preparation guidelines on page 2; failure to follow the guidelines could result in disqualification from the competition.
  • Please follow abstract preparation guidelines on page 3 for the submission to the BJA Open Access Journal.

 

What happens next?

  • The closing date for entries will be 23.59 Monday 17 March 2025.
  • A panel of RCoA judges will assess all submissions shortly after the closing date. Authors will be notified by Monday 14 April if they have been invited to display their poster at Anaesthesia 2025.
  • All accepted posters will be invited to showcase their poster on the virtual platform.
  • The selected winner will be given a slot to present their poster during the live programme.
  • Authors selected to present their poster will need to book a place at the event in order to display their poster.