On National Anaesthesia Day 16 October, our Dunedin anaesthetic staff had an exciting opportunity to exhibit their tools of the trade and answer questions about anaesthesia in the Dunedin Hospital foyer.
This year’s theme is peri-operative care.
Consultant anaesthesiologist, Dr Claire Ireland, said the goal of peri-operative care is to minimise complications in the peri-operative period, reduce the duration of hospital stays and the need for critical care beds, and, most importantly, enhance the post-operative quality of life for patients over the days, months, and years following their surgeries.
Read more in the ODT article: National Anaesthesia Day enough to put you to sleep | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)
In addition to increasing public awareness about the intricacies of anaesthesia care, National Anaesthesia Day is also a day to celebrate the incredible work of anaesthetists, peri-operative nursing staff, and technicians who play a vital role in ensuring safe and comfortable surgeries.
Natalie Irving, anaesthetic registrar who joined the team in 2021, says she enjoys working in this big team comprising of anaesthesia staff, surgeons, nurses and anaesthetic technicians. The variety allows her to continually pick up new knowledge and skills from different specialties.
“It is a great profession as I’m closely involved in a patient’s care, easing their worries and stress around surgery. Helping them to get through this time is very special.”
Photo: Rachael Stewart Anaesthesia SHO, Claire Ireland Consultant Anaesthetist, Amy Ottley APAC RN, Natalie Irving Anaesthesia Registrar, Marianne Te Tau Clinical Nurse Specialist APAC, Thyla Guise-Tatimu Registered Anaesthetic Technician and Brittany MacDonald Anaesthesia Registrar.