Bulletin minimises its environmental impact in 2022 and beyond

We wanted to update you on some important changes to the Bulletin, (the official magazine for members of the Royal College of Anaesthetists), as well as reminding you of how you can access it.

There are now two ways to access the Bulletin. As well as the quarterly printed version we will be adding an online version later in the year. This means that you’ll be able to get all the same high-quality content in a digital format. Currently the digital version of the Bulletin is the pdf on the RCoA website.

This move aligns to the College's sustainability strategy and the printed version (now with improved paper quality) will be carbon balanced, as production is now offset in a number of ways, including tree planting. Members can also reduce their paper waste by opting out of receiving the printed version to view the current online version only.

The new digital offering reflects changes to readers’ online activity in the last two years, which has seen an increase in the number of healthcare professionals opting to read articles online. The new digital Bulletin will allow members to enjoy more content, wherever they are. It presents great opportunities for varied content formats including video and audio and we’ll continue to welcome thoughts from members about what they’d like to see.

Improvements to the printed version of the Bulletin, as well as development of a digital version, come as a result of changes that you, our members, have requested. In a recent survey to our Membership Engagement Panel (MEP), nearly 60 per cent of respondents said they would like a digital version alongside the printed edition. We continue to listen to your feedback and make improvements based on what you, our members want. If you are interested in joining the MEP or for more information, please visit the College website.

These changes come as many titles including the British Journal of Anaesthesia (BJA) and the British Journal of Anaesthesia Education (BJAEd) have announced moves to digital formats in recent months.

As a reminder, members can access the BJA and BJAEd via the My RCoA portal. We have also produced a ‘how-to’ guide and video to show how to access the portal and the journals. 

The Bulletin, the BJA and BJAEd are just some of the benefits you can take advantage of as a member of the RCoA and/or one of our Faculties. We will shortly be providing opportunities for you to engage with us to share your thoughts about the value of your College membership. What benefits and services do you use most frequently? What would you like us to keep doing and what would you like us to change? We really value hearing your thoughts as they help shape future decision making. Keep an eye out for future invites to listening events and requests to complete snap-shot surveys.

If you have any questions about this news, please contact the Membership Engagement team at: membership@rcoa.ac.uk