The consultant anaesthetist should be easily contactable, and should be available to attend within two minutes of being requested by the AAs.3
In single specialty centres, the anaesthetic department should adopt the generic standards described throughout GPAS. This should include a lead paediatric anaesthetist if children are treated.
All major head and neck surgery should be overseen by a named consultant anaesthetist with a subspecialty interest in this area.63
All major head and neck surgery should be overseen by a named consultant anaesthetist with a subspecialty interest in this area.50
An appropriately trained consultant cardiac anaesthetist should be available at all times, through a formal on-call rota.4
All anaesthetists and anaesthetic assistants should receive systematic training in the use of new equipment. This should be documented.33
Locum anaesthetists should be assessed to ensure their competence prior to undertaking work without direct supervision.24
There should be a named consultant anaesthetist and obstetrician responsible 24/7 for all women requiring a higher level of care.16
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 preassessment clinic should be predominantly led by suitably trained nurses or other extended role practitioners using agreed protocols and with support from an anaesthetist.
