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To act as the duty anaesthetist without direct supervision from a consultant or autonomously practising anaesthetist, the duty anaesthetist should meet the basic training specifications and have attained the RCoA’s Initial Assessment of Competence in Obstetric Anaesthesia.^20,21

Some anaesthetists may have responsibility for management of major vascular surgical cases on an occasional or out-of-hours basis. Departments of anaesthesia should ensure that opportunities are made available for these anaesthetists to maintain appropriate skills and knowledge. Notwithstanding this provision, all anaesthetists must recognise and work within the limits of their professional competence.

If sedation is administered by an anaesthetist, then a suitably trained individual should be present to assist the anaesthetist.

Hospitals should consider involving an anaesthetist in the training of non-anaesthetists in the provision of safe sedation.

At least one anaesthetist in each anaesthetic department, not necessarily an obstetric anaesthetist, should take the lead in safeguarding/child protection⁸⁶ and undertake training and maintain core level 3 competencies. The lead anaesthetist for safeguarding/child protection should liaise with their multidisciplinary counterparts within the obstetric unit.

An appropriately trained and experienced anaesthetist should be present for all neurosurgical operating lists and interventional neuroradiology sessions, with sufficient consultant-programmed activities to provide adequate supervision and support to anaesthetists in training and staff grade, associate specialist or specialty (SAS) anaesthetists.^3,5