anaesthetistDiary of a consultant anaesthetist


Anaesthetists perform many more roles than just "putting you to sleep" for surgery. They are fully trained doctors providing emergency care in many situations including advance life support and the resuscitation of the critically ill. Running an intensive care unit (ICU) is one of the specialist areas that an anaesthetist may decide to pursue. Patients who are seriously ill with life-threatening conditions are looked after on the ICU. The consultant has responsibility for the care and treatment of all patients on the unit. The patients, who are often unconscious, need constant monitoring and support to keep normal body functions going.


This is an illustration of an on call week in the life of a consultant anaesthetist working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in an NHS hospital.

 

AM

PM

Saturday

08.00 start
Early ward round to assess patients on ward.
Review critical patients in post operative recovery ward.
Calls from other hospital wards to assess potential further admissions to ICU.

Further ward work and reviewing patients on ICU.
On-call overnight.
Return to hospital during the night to assess patient in A&E and decide on admission and continuing care.

Sunday

03.30 Return to hospital to re-assess a patient and talk to relatives.
08.00 hand over round with trainees, ward round and further ward referrals.

Further calls from other wards and A&E.
On-call overnight.
Probable 1 or 2 telephone calls, plus high likelihood of return to hospital.

Monday

08.00 start
Hand over round with overnight trainees.
Ward round.
Microbiology round with consultant microbiologist to review treatment plans and control infection.

12.30 ICU finishes and consultant colleague takes over including overnight cover.
12.30-13.30: ICU leadership team meeting to discuss day to day business of running the ICU.
13.30-15.30: clear correspondence and general management work.

Tuesday

08.00 start
Hand over round with overnight trainees.
Ward round.

Receive referrals from Wards.
Infection control meeting.
On-call overnight.

Wednesday

08.00 start
Hand over ward round with overnight trainee.
Ward round.
Microbiology round with consultant microbiologist to review treatment plans and control infection.

17.00 ICU finishes and consultant colleague takes over overnight cover.
 

Thursday

08.00 start
Hand over ward round with overnight trainee.
Ward round.

Meet with Divisional Director to discuss expansion plans for ICU.
Assisting trainee doctors with exam preparations.
On-call overnight.

Friday

08.00 start
Hand over ward round with overnight trainee.
Ward round.
10.30-11.30: Teaching junior doctors
12.00-12.30 – X-ray meeting with consultant radiologist to review patients’ treatment.

12.30 ICU on-call week finishes and another consultant takes over overnight cover.
12.30-13.30: ICU leadership team meeting.
13.30- 19.00 Monthly meetings to discuss clinical governance and attend departmental meetings for ICU and anaesthesia. .


Average weekly contracted hours: 48 hours (a typical on-call week is 70-90 hours of actual work depending on how busy the on-call period is.)

For an ICU comprising 7 consultants, each consultant completes this rota for one week, every seven weeks. A further week is spent covering for a colleague and this includes three overnight on-call covers and two full days in the unit. Other weeks spent in theatre providing anaesthetic service and other managerial of teaching duties with the trust and often for the wider NHS.

See the diary of a consultant orthopaedic surgeon or consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist or consultant radiologist

© British Medical Association 2008

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