Emergency Medicine and anaesthetists

"If you ever find yourself stood in front of a patient who is so unwell that they make all the colour drain from your face and you forget everything you once knew about medicine, the anaesthetist on call is the person you want stood next to you. Virtually always the calmest person in the room, they not only help manage the emergency, but help lead the team and ensure everyone is communicating effectively.

"In theatre, the anaesthetists I have worked with have, almost without exception, been brilliant educators and trainers. The six months I spent on an anaesthetic placement was second to none in terms of experience and training. Always willing to talk through anything you are struggling with, supervise any practical procedures while also being conscious of not being overbearing and allowing you to develop as a practitioner in your own right.

"I think you can tell a lot about someone by how they treat their colleagues, and the relationships between the anaesthetic team and the rest of the team in theatre is amongst the best that I have seen in the hospital environment. I have worked with some fantastic clinicians, teachers and people in anaesthetics over my career so far, and I hope that continues into the future."

Dr Sam Copson, Emergency Medicine Registrar, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children