Resources for departments
What makes a good department? A themed issue of Anaesthesia News
Is ‘Good’ an objective concept? Defining ‘good’ gives you different dimensions. ‘To be desired’, ‘that which is morally right’, ‘having the required qualities’, the list goes on. When our editorial team pondered the question of a ‘good department’ with colleagues, different expressions, emotions and viewpoints evolved – thus the reasoning behind this issue.
Fatigue
An exhausted trainee anaesthetist was tragically killed after falling asleep at the wheel of their car in 2015. This isn't an isolated incident. Our recent survey showed that many doctors have experienced an accident or near miss when driving home after a night shift. It's time to change the culture of fatigue in the healthcare profession. We need to #FightFatigue together.
Recommended reading
Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams, by Matthew Walker, explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters.
'Doctors’ messes: we want free, high quality accommodation for foundation doctors'
Making real, measurable change in a cash-strapped environment can be difficult. One identifies the problem and creates a solution, but where’s the money to implement it?
Wellbeing lead
A few years ago, the word wellbeing was a new entry in the medical lingo. However in a short period of time there has been an acknowledgement that wellbeing matters, and this has accelerated healthy changes in the way we work, the way we talk about fatigue, and the way we’ve started looking out for one another.
Personal reflections: connection through COVID
Healthcare professionals from Cork describe how connection helped individuals and the department during COVID-19.
#Knockitout
We campaign on behalf of trainees with anti-workplace-bullying campaigns like #Knockitout; which aims to create a positive workplace culture that is free from bullying, harassment and undermining behaviours.
Download our #Knockitout graphics
Coffee and a Gas
We initiated Coffee and a Gas to mark International Stress Day in 2017. We had a fantastic response with many of you taking the time to catch up and share your own experiences and concerns.
Suicide amongst anaesthetists
Anaesthetists are thought to be at increased risk of suicide amongst the medical profession. The aims of the following guidelines are: increase awareness of suicide and associated vulnerabilities, risk factors and precipitants; to emphasise safe ways to respond to individuals in distress, both for them and for colleagues working alongside them; and to support individuals, departments and organisations in coping with a suicide.