RA-UK has been asked by members to advise on the requirements for the presence of an anaesthetist throughout regional anaesthesia (RA) procedures.
The current guidelines from the AAGBI state that: “An anaesthetist of appropriate experience must be present throughout general anaesthesia, including any period of cardiopulmonary bypass. Using clinical skills and monitoring equipment, the anaesthetist must care for the patient continuously. The same standards must apply when an anaesthetist is responsible for a local/regional anaestheticor sedative technique for an operative procedure”1. The RCoA makes similar recommendations and also states that “one anaesthetist cannot provide direct care for more than one patient receiving general or regional anaesthesia, or sedation”.2.
However, RA-UK considers that many awake patients having limb surgery with RA do not require the same level of supervision as patients receiving general anaesthesia.
RA-UK considers that, in certain well-defined circumstances, an anaesthetist is not required to be present throughout surgery with peripheral regional anaesthesia.
The patient can then be supervised and monitored by a suitably competent health care worker who has been specifically trained in patient monitoring, competency being defined according to the AAGBI requirements for PACU (recovery) nursing.
Introducing our brand new RAUK App. The free resource for all members to learn regional anaesthesia. Download the RAUK App on iOS or Android by clicking on the buttons..The App can be downloaded for free and non-members can view the Plan A content after registration. Members can unlock the full content by joining RA-UK where your RA-UK account will be linked. 
