World Anaesthesia Day 2021

16 October marks World Anaesthesia Day - a celebration of the outstanding work and commitment of anaesthetists across the globe. This year we are re-introducing our Fitter, Better, Sooner resources to members to encourage them to help their patients get fit prior to surgery.

Happy World Anaesthesia Day! To mark this special occasion, this year we are re-introducing our ever popular Fitter Better Sooner resources, created to encourage patients to get as fit as possible prior to their surgery. This year, due to the continued effects of COVID-19, it’s even more important than ever to encourage your patients to be as healthy as possible before their operation. Using the Fitter Better Sooner resources to talk to patients about their health and lifestyle choices during pre-assessment discussions can help make positive change.

Having an operation is a major event in someone’s life and it’s normal for them to feel anxious about it. Fitter patients who are able to improve their health and activity levels recover from surgery more quickly and with fewer complications. Changing a patient's expectation from just waiting for surgery to one of active preparation can have a really positive impact on their recovery and long-term health.

Our Fitter Better Sooner toolkit consists of one main leaflet, six specific leaflets on some of the most common surgical procedures and an animation which can be shown in clinics or on portable devices. The toolkit is endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng).

This World Anaesthesia Day we invite you to take a look at our resources to see how they be of use to you and your patients.

Here’s a message from our RCoA President, Dr Fiona Donald about this year's celebrations.