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It’s been nearly a year since we published our independent and internal reviews of the FRCA examination together with a commitment to develop our examination and review our processes. This article provides an overview of the positive steps taken since publication to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the examinations in the RCoA, FICM and FPM.

The conference takes place at ICC Belfast in the heart of the city, moments from the maze of cobblestoned streets in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. We'll be close to the Metropolitan Arts Centre, St Anne’s Cathedral and just a short stroll from the Titanic Belfast, where you can see the story of the Titanic from conception to its maiden voyage. And Belfast is also the home of the blockbuster ‘Game of Thrones’ TV show. Visitors can visit filming locations across Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Our Anaesthesia 2025 venue is a designated conference space with excellent transport links and ‘Green Meetings’ accreditation, helping us to deliver a more sustainable event that benefits the local economy. ‘Visit Belfast’ have an array of local attractions and activities for you to explore, and we plan to help you make the most of your time in the city, and to make your conference experience that much more fulfilling.

The NHS is responsible for emissions equivalent to 25 megatonnes of CO₂, approximately 5% of the UK’s carbon footprint.^1,2 Healthcare is key to the UK’s COP26 target to reduce the national environmental footprint, with ambitions for a net-zero NHS by 2040.² Anaesthetic gases are a key contributor of NHS emissions, being responsible for 2% of the total NHS footprint.¹ Pressure to reduce the environmental impact of anaesthesia is therefore growing.

In recent years, the College Council has grown the number of co-opted members of Council to include representation from anaesthetists in training, FRCA examinations, defence anaesthesia and regional advisors anaesthesia. 

Since September 2022, the College Council has welcomed new representatives to support all clinical, professional, and health policy matters. Following on from the four new Council members featured in April’s Bulletin, you can read more about our new members below. 

We're delighted to announce that since September 2022 we have welcomed new elected and co-opted Council members.

The main purpose of Council is to provide clinical leadership to the specialty, set standards for education, learning and examinations, and ensure adherence to evidence-based practice.

It is the role of Council members to make sure that the College represents the needs of members and the profession. Find out more about new Council members in this article.

Welcome to the Winter 2024 issue of the Bulletin. I am always filled with renewed enthusiasm at the start of a new calendar year, in part as the festive season in South Asian cultures starts in late October with the celebration of Diwali and then… well… continues! 

This is not to take away from the fact that winter within the UK National Health Service (NHS) is extremely challenging; some may say that this year, especially, is akin to walking a tight rope.

There is a mental-health crisis among doctors in the United Kingdom, with 51% experiencing poor mental health, nearly 50% wishing to reduce their working hours, and 10% planning to quit.¹ There are excessively high levels of burnout being reported among anaesthetists in training.² Burnout impacts on the delivery of high-quality patient care,³ and a ‘healthy’ work environment is associated with approximately 30% less intention to leave the profession.⁴

In an attempt to prevent burnout in our trainee cohort, we created a regular wellbeing initiative: Coffee Club. We wanted to provide a time and a place in which trainees could reflect on their individual and collective experiences. It was essential that this was a warm, welcoming, safe and confidential space.

Being an anaesthetist in training has always had its challenges, alongside the many opportunities and benefits offered by our specialty. However, I think that those of you currently in training are facing a particularly tough time. And without wanting to be too downbeat, I think it’s important for the College to recognise that, to reiterate our commitment to supporting you and to update you on what we are doing to try and improve your working lives.  

There could be no stronger reminder of these challenges than the fact that, as I write this, junior doctors are about to begin the first day of a 72-hour strike. Although unsurprising, the overwhelming support for industrial action among junior doctors is further evidence of just how frustrated and undervalued they are feeling. Our job is to ensure the voices of our members are heard and understood. We do value you, and while we do not have a role in negotiations about terms and conditions of employment, we have made it clear that we believe the exclusion of doctors in training and SAS doctors on the reformed contract from the government’s pay deal is likely to exacerbate the NHS staffing crisis. We will continue to make that point to the government as we advocate action to address workforce shortages and pressures.

Author: Dr Stuart Connal, Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia, North Central London Deanery

Perioperative Journal Watch is written by TRIPOM (trainees with an interest in perioperative medicine – tripom.org) and is a brief distillation of recent important papers and articles on perioperative medicine from across the spectrum of medical publications.