National Anaesthesia Day

22 May 2000

On Thursday 25 May patients and visitors to the West Suffolk Hospital can learn about the role of Consultant Anaesthetists in the hospital as part of the first National Anaesthesia Day.

'Someone Watching Over You" is the theme for the day which has been initiated by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The aim is to improve the understanding of who anaesthetists are and what they do.

"Many people do not regard anaesthetists as 'proper' doctors even though we train for the same length of time it takes someone to become a paediatrician or surgeon," says Dr Pam Crispin who is the consultant with responsibility for intensive care anaesthesiology.

"As a specialty we are involved in the care of two-thirds of all hospital patients. Everyone knows about our role in the operating theatre - but I am sure people will be surprised to learn that we run the intensive care unit are involved in trauma care, day surgery, resuscitation and pain management including giving pain relief in the form of epidurals to women having babies.

There are 14 consultant anaesthetists in the hospital who all work as part of a multidisciplinary team including nursing staff and operating department assistants (ODAs).

As part of the celebrations of the day historical and modern anaesthetic equipment will be on display in the main foyer along with information posters and leaflets. Consultants, trainees and ODAs will be available through the day to answer questions and help the public have a go at resuscitation skills with the help of a dummy known as Resuscitation Annie.

"I am sure lots of people have seen doctors on 'Casualty' and 'ER' trying to resuscitate a patient by inserting a tube to keep their airway clear. The doctors who carry out this procedure are always anaesthetists and we will be giving visitors to the hospital a chance to try their hand at this and other resuscitation skills.