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A rapid infuser allowing the infusion of warmed intravenous fluids and blood products should be available.^97,98,99

A cell salvage service should be available for cases where massive blood loss is anticipated. Staff who operate this equipment should receive training in how to operate it, and use it with sufficient frequency to maintain their skills.^98,100

Blood gas analysis (with the facility to measure serum lactate and the facility for rapid estimation of haemoglobin and blood sugar) should be available on the delivery suite.

There should be secretarial support for the department of anaesthesia, including the obstetric anaesthetic service.

Provision should be made to ensure access to appropriate healthcare professionals to support women who require their services, such as clinical pharmacists, dietitians, outreach nurses and physiotherapists.¹⁶

Risk assessment should include assessing the risk of severe acute postsurgical pain and chronic postsurgical pain. These adverse outcomes are common and screening tools appropriate to an individual hospital case mix can be developed.^59,60

Locum anaesthetists should be assessed to ensure their competence prior to undertaking work without direct supervision.²⁴

Delivery suite rooms should be equipped with monitoring equipment for the measurement of non-invasive blood pressure, oxygen saturation and heart rate.

Delivery suite rooms should have oxygen, suction equipment and access to resuscitation equipment. Equipment should be checked daily in accordance with the Association of Anaesthetists published guidelines.³⁸

Delivery suite rooms must comply with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and guidelines on workplace exposure limits on waste gas pollution.^39,40