Senior doctor was present in 87% of anaesthesia cases in 2013

Anaesthesia is a predominantly consultant led service, with senior doctors present for 87% of all anaesthetics and 75% of the time when anaesthetic is given out of hours, a study has found.1 The findings of a survey by the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland showed that anaesthetists were responsible for the care of more than 3.5 million patients a year—meaning that, in a given year, one person in 20 requires an anaesthetic. The study also showed …