Sub-specialities

The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming GAT handbook; Dr Samantha Shinde, Consultant Neuroanaesthetist, North Bristol NHS Trust and Dr Ingrid Wilkins, Fellow in Neuroanaesthesia, North Bristol NHS Trust, sum up what they think you need to work in neuroanaesthesia:

Are you looking for a dynamic and rapidly advancing sub-specialty where your anaesthetic technique can have a real impact on both operative conditions and patient outcome? Where advanced airway skills, multimodal monitoring and the management of challenging and complex cases are required on a regular basis? Do you enjoy bringing physiology and pharmacology to life whilst working as part of a dedicated team when managing critically ill patients? If so, neuroanaesthesia and/or neurocritical care may be the career choice for you.  

Where would I work?

Most neurosurgical units are based within 39 teaching hospitals in major geographical centres of the UK and Ireland. These act as tertiary referral centres within a set geographical area. Working at such centres, most neuroanaesthetists will also have sessions where they carry out non-neurosurgical lists or work in intensive care. As with other sub-specialties, the training in neuroanaesthesia and neurocritical care has become increasingly standardised following the introduction of competency based training. There are now intermediate, higher and advanced training modules, details of which can be viewed on the Neuroanaesthesia Society of Great Britain and Ireland (NASGBI) website (www.nasgbi.org.uk). Read more »