THANK you to the many people involved in recognising the work of Dr John Snow, pioneer of anaesthesia (“York’s memorial to ‘the greatest doctor of all time’”, The Press, March 25).
Despite its relatively humble beginnings during the lifetime of Dr Snow, today anaesthetists play a crucial role in every UK hospital.
With approximately 10 million operations requiring an anaesthetic every year in the UK, anaesthesia is widely recognised as exceptionally safe and effective.
With two-thirds of hospital in-patients interacting with an anaesthetist, anaesthesia remains the UK’s largest single speciality of care within hospitals and the community.
Duties required of the modern anaesthetist also often go way beyond their clinical responsibilities – we are educators, communicators and medical leaders.
Anaesthetists continue to drive quality improvement and participate in important health care research, continuing the tradition started by Dr Snow more than 150 years ago.
In 2017, anaesthesia and the role of anaesthetists within the NHS is being acknowledged as the Royal College of Anaesthetists celebrates the 25th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter.
More information about our UK-wide celebrations and up-coming patient and public events can be found at www.rcoa.ac.uk/rcoa25.
Dr Liam Brennan, President, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Red Lion Square, London
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