Patient safety
The Royal College of Anaesthetists is committed to improving patient safety
We work with our members and partners to ensure the highest standards of safety for patients.
Patient safety lies at the heart of healthcare. It is one of the most significant concerns across the NHS and independent sector and is a key priority for the College. We are committed to improving patient safety through the maintenance and advancement of standards in anaesthesia.
A key factor to driving forward patient safety is maximising the things that go right and minimising the things that go wrong. We support a culture where people feel safe to admit errors and learn from them. We aim to empower individuals to share their insights to improve safety.
Patient safety is threaded throughout all College workstreams including setting national standards of practice, departmental accreditation and quality improvement projects.
Take a look at our patient safety strategy for more details on our vision and ongoing projects.
Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group
Our patient safety initiatives are predominantly overseen by the Safe Anaesthesia Liaison Group (SALG). This group brings together the interests of several organisations working to improve patient safety across the UK.
Further information can be found here.
Read more about the College's patient safety initiatives
Unrecognised oesophageal intubation
Cappuccini Test
Invited Reviews
If you have any queries on our patient safety workstreams or wish to discuss any new initiatives please email