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Where an anaesthetist is supervised by a sessional supervisor, the individual should be aware of their supervisor’s identity, location and how to contact them.^37,42

It is important that local reporting systems should feed into national reporting systems, where relevant.⁹⁵ Anaesthetists should contribute data as required, with the support of their organisation.

Local policies should be in place to define the scope of intraoperative monitoring by non-anaesthetist health care workers. These policies should meet the criteria proposed by RA-UK.¹⁶

Hospitals should consider providing specific regional anaesthesia lists for awake procedures, staffed by an anaesthetist with a special interest in regional anaesthesia. However, alternative lists for patients unable or unwilling to undergo awake surgery should be available.

All anaesthetists must be aware of the potential benefits and risks of regional anaesthesia and be able to discuss these options with patients where appropriate as part of an individual patient anaesthetic management plan.⁴⁶

Critically ill patients are complex and hold unique particularities that makes them more susceptible to side effects and complications of regional anaesthesia techniques. Experienced regional anaesthetists should perform/supervise regional anaesthesia techniques in these patients.

Where possible, day surgery is preferable to avoid disrupting normal routines. Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists Guidelines on breastfeeding and sedation in breastfeeding women should be followed.⁵⁶

Families should be provided with written or web-based resources that provide information specific to anaesthesia before the planned surgery/procedure,⁸⁰ and contact details for the preassessment team should be provided in case they have further questions or need to speak directly with their anaesthetist. The leaflet ‘Information for teenagers, children and parents’ is available from the RCoA website, and...

Anaesthetists should be given support and time to familiarise themselves with non theatre locations and local working arrangements, e.g. during induction sessions.^25,156

An appropriately skilled and experienced resident anaesthetist should be available at all times to care for postoperative and emergency patients. The experience and skills necessary to provide this cover are not usually found in training grades below ST3.⁵