Anaesthesia on Air

The next episode from our colleagues at TopMedTalk features Andy Cumpstey interviewing Louise Savic, consultant anaesthetist and NIHR doctoral researcher at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, who specialises in drug allergy and peri-operative anaphylaxis, and Tom Abbott, clinical senior lecturer in anaesthesia and peri-operative medicine at Queen Mary University of London, UK, and a consultan...

The next episode from our colleagues at TopMedTalk features Andy Cumpstey interviewing James Bowness, consultant anaesthetist, at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at University College London.  James and Andy discuss the definition and scope of AI, how it can be applied to healthcare, why Apple's approach to technology prod...

We have a departure from normal programming with an episode from our friends at TopMedTalk. Andy Cumpstey spoke to Joe Alderman at the RCoA's Anaesthesia Research 2025 event about the challenges of AI in healthcare in an episode first released in February 2026. Dr Alderman started his career in cell biology and immunometabolism and is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Anaesthetics and Postdoctoral Rese...

In this episode Dr Eoin Dore discusses wellbeing at work with Society of Occupational Medicine President Professor Neil Greenberg, and RCoA Wellbeing Lead Dr Ramai Santhirapala. They discuss the definition of wellbeing, how it relates to work, parallels between mental health in the military and civilian life, 'moral injury', and much more. This interview follows the publication of the College's re...

Welcome to this  series of podcasts devised by the RCoA Heritage and Archives Committee.  In this episode, Pierre Foex and Helen Higham talk to Maria Rollin about their work together, the importance of good mentoring and Pierre's 50 year association with the College and 66 years association with anaesthesia. They also talk about the success of the Cardiac Disease and Anaesthesia Symposium, which h...

In this episode, Dr Eoin Dore speaks to Miss Rachel Hargest following her presentation at the Winter Symposium 2025, where she delivered the Webb Johnson Oration Award lecture: Challenges and Opportunities for Surgeons and Anaesthetists in Global Emergency, Critical and Operative Care.  Miss Hargest shares what it really takes to deliver safe, effective surgery in low‑resource settings. From inven...

In this episode, Dr Andrew Vaughton, former Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation, shares his experience following his 2021 Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis and subsequent medical retirement. Andy now focuses on MND awareness, fundraising, and promoting health and community support. He’s joined by his wife Dr Susanne Vaughton, a former GP who left medicine after Andy...

In this podcast Dr Samantha Black, Dr Maya Sussmann and Chair of Patient voices at RCoA, Jenny Westaway discuss the use and growth of AI large language models and their role in the patient-clinician conversation, and the various risks and opportunities this presents.  They discuss the latest technology being used and how patients are currently using AI to inform themselves about healthcare. Record...

In this podcast, recorded at our Anaesthesia 2025 conference in Belfast consultant anaesthetists Dr Branislav (Brano) Mislovic and Dr Will Donaldson discuss developments in paediatric regional anaesthesia, following Brano's address to the conference. Brano and Will address misconceptions around paediatric regional anaesthesia, the use of ultrasound and the various opportunities and challenges arou...

In this podcast, recorded at our Anaesthesia 2025 conference, Professor and Consultant Anaesthetist Helen Higham talks to Dr Paul Southall about her work and career improving the the 'complex and adaptive system' of anaesthesia often given by its shorthand, 'human factors'.  For this work Helen was awarded the Hewitt Lectureship, given to established senior clinicians, academic experts or pioneers...

In this podcast Dr Jennifer Proc talks to Dr Tara Byott and Dr Sarah Muldoon about their experiences becoming consultant anaesthetists. They discuss how Sarah and Tara became consultants, and Jennifer's own experience working towards that, and cover topics including: the first appraisal, preparing for managing anaesthetists in training, handling expectations with surgeons and patients alike, impos...

In this podcast Dr Hattie White talks to CPOC Director David Selwyn and CPOC Fellow Claire Frank about her prize winning presentation “Improving Clinical Incident Reporting in a District General Hospital Anaesthetic Department.” They discuss Hattie’s QI work, how she came up with the idea, the challenges and her contributions to perioperative care as a result. We hope this will be of interest to l...

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) programme, the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. We have created this mini-series to support those already undertaking the programme or for those inter...

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) programme, the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. We have created this mini-series to support those already undertaking the programme or for those inter...

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) programme, the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. We have created this mini-series to support those already undertaking the programme or for those inter...

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) programme, the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. We have created this mini-series to support those already undertaking the programme or for those inter...

This is a special podcast mini-series focusing on the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) programme, the process that enables doctors who don't hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to join the GMC's specialist register and therefore be eligible to take up substantive consultant posts. We have created this mini-series to support those already undertaking the programme or for those inter...

In this podcast, recorded at Anaesthesia 2025, host Dr Helgi Johannsson talks to retired anaesthetist Dr John Maginness.  On 15 August 1998 a bomb was detonated in Omagh town centre, in Northern Ireland. John, who lived locally, was a member of the medical team who responded. John joined the panel discussion on the Omagh bombing at our 2025 Belfast annual conference and in this podcast, recorded i...

In this podcast, recorded at Anaesthesia 2025, host Dr Toni Brunning and guest speakers Dr Joe Lipton, Dr Joe Hogan,  Dr Hannah Headon, Dr Chris James and Dr Soumen Sen talk about the GPC (Generic Professional Capabilities) Hub, where the idea came from, and what others can learn through their experiences. Our Anaesthesia 2026 flagship conference will take place in Brighton and online over three d...

In this podcast, recorded at Anaesthesia 2025, Professor Anil Hormis and Dr Rosie Hogg talk about Nociception Monitoring. They discuss what nociception is, what the NOL monitor is and how it works. Our Anaesthesia 2026 flagship conference will take place in Brighton and online over three days in May 2026. Book by 31 December to get 20% off! More details: Anaesthesia 2026 | The Royal College of Ana...

In this episode of Anaesthesia on Air, former Dinwoodie Simulation fellow Dr Steffan Glaze, Professor Cristina Diaz-Navarro and Dr Ed Mellanby (simulation leads in Wales and Scotland, respectively) discuss simulation-based education in anaesthesia and the context in medical simulation around recent guidance from the College. They share how they've developed their own work in simulation, how listen...

In this episode of Anaesthesia on Air, past president of the RCoA Dr Fiona Donald talks to Dr James Nickells about his career in anaesthesia and critical care, and his rich hinterland in medical illustration, portrait art, and more, and how James has combined his clinical and outside interests over his career.   Related information: www.globalportraitproject.com https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles...

In this episode of Anaesthesia on Air,  we are re-publishing an archived episode by Dr Toni Brunning and Dr Lucinda Williams as they discuss clinician wellbeing with a focus on open-water and cold-water swimming,  including the physical and emotional benefits. The podcast explores how cold-water swimming can enhance circulation, boost the immune system, and increase endorphin production, leading t...

In this special podcast episode, produced jointly with the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Dr Danny Bryden, Dr Dale Gardiner and Dr Ian Thomas discuss when and how to diagnose death for the purposes of organ donation, and the implications of recent changes to guidance issued by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for anaesthetists and intensivists. Rela...

In the second of a two-part podcast from the Centre for Perioperative Care and the Royal College of Anaesthetists former CPOC Fellow Dr Sam Moore and Dr Stuart Connal explore shared decision making - its definitions, usage, and many nuances in the interaction between clinicians and patients.  This podcast features guests Dr Sam Finnikin, Dr Gemma Hughes, and Leila Finikarides, and is split into tw...