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There should be a clear line of communication between the duty anaesthetist, theatre staff and anaesthetic assistant once a decision is made to undertake an emergency caesarean delivery. 

The anaesthetist should be informed about the category of urgency of caesarean delivery at the earliest opportunity.¹¹⁷

A World Health Organization (WHO) checklist adapted for maternity should be used in theatre.¹¹⁸

Before induction of general anaesthesia, there should be a multidisciplinary discussion about whether to wake the woman or to continue with anaesthesia in the event of failed tracheal intubation.¹¹⁹

Women should be informed of the risks of accidental awareness under general anaesthesia during emergency caesarean delivery. Precautions should be taken to minimise these risks.^{10,117,118,120}

Team briefing and the WHO checklist should be in routine use on the labour ward to promote good communication and team working and reduce adverse incidents.^{117,118,121,122}

The use of handover tools, which reduce critical omissions during handovers in obstetric anaesthesia, should be promoted.^25,123

Units with high numbers of caesarean delivery should have elective caesarean delivery lists to minimise disruption due to emergency work.^87,124 Any elective caesarean delivery list should have dedicated obstetric, anaesthetic and theatre staff.

If any major restructuring of the provision of local maternity services are planned, the lead obstetric anaesthetist should be involved in that process.²⁴

Anaesthesia should be represented on all committees responsible for maternity services (e.g. the Maternity Services Liaison Committee, Delivery Suite Forum, Obstetric Multidisciplinary Guidelines Committee, Obstetric Risk Management Committee).^24,55