All thoracic units should have regular morbidity and mortality meetings. These meetings should be provided with a list of patients to discuss in advance, an attendance register, and minutes with learning points. Consultants or autonomously practising anaesthetists should attend these meetings and they should be included in job plans. Trainees should be encouraged to attend during their attachments.
The anaesthetist should explain what the patient will experience before and after anaesthesia, and include any choices of anaesthetic technique and details of postoperative management.
Anaesthetists who prescribe sedation for paediatric burn patients should have received appropriate training.41
The recommended Association of Anaesthetists standards of anaesthetic monitoring should be met for every patient.25
The anaesthetist should have the skills to hold a competent interview, assess and communicate the chance of benefit and harm, and facilitate shared decision-making.
The anaesthetist caring for the woman should not be responsible for neonatal resuscitation and the care of the newborn baby.21
There should be documentation of any discussions informing consent for any procedures undertaken by the anaesthetist.113
The anaesthetist should be informed about the category of urgency of caesarean delivery at the earliest opportunity.117
Anaesthetists should be involved alongside surgical colleagues and orthogeriatricians, in discussions on preoperative planning, timing of surgery, and postoperative care, especially for high risk patients.
