Foundation doctors in anaesthesia: should they be taught to administer an anaesthetic?
BACKGROUND
Anaesthetic pre-registration house officer posts have been available since 1997. With the change to postgraduate medical training introduced in 2005, these posts have become vital building blocks for Foundation Programmes.


CONCLUSIONS
We debate the skills that new Foundation Programme doctors in such posts should be taught, particularly whether administration of an anaesthetic holds an important place. The opinion of college tutors prior to the institution of the foundation programme is included. These were obtained from a postal questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
We maintain that teaching how to administer an anaesthetic remains an important learning objective and something that should be actively pursued.
Specialty Trainee 2, Cardiothoracic Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK. awphillips@doctors.net.uk
Alexander W
AW
Phillips
Abhinav
A
Kant
James P
JP
Chinery
Sean
S
Williamson
David M
DM
Murray
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom