Dr Jono Womack has prepared a new draft guidance document on supervision for patients during peripheral regional anaesthesia. We invite comments from the membership about this, and intend to publish this formally on the site at the end of the month.
We are pleased to announce that we are currently working on the RA-UK handbook as an app for ios and android, this is still a work in progress, but will be replacing the paper copies in the future. More details will be coming soon, but we are very excited to be entering the digital realm with Plan A. A digital handbook will significantly streamline distribution of the handbook, and enable us to keep it up to date.
As a consequence, we have wound down our stocks of the paper handbook, and have now reached the last of our stocks. Reprinting a short run would be prohibitively expensive, and would mean significant increases in membership costs, so from now on we can no longer offer paper copies. We will be providing all new joiners with the app for free as soon as it is available, but there may be a little wait for this. We will also update existing members about how they can download the app too.
We understand this may be disappointing for new joiners, but the full handbook remains viewable on the website when logged in, and we feel that investing digitally is the most cost effective way to ensure all our members, including those outside the uk, can benefit from the handbook.
For any questions about this, please contact support.
The team for talking slides have been working fiendishly in the background to get the ASM content edited and finished, and we're pleased to announce that the website is now live for catchup. You'll need to use the login provided to you during the ASM. If you have forgotten the details, please use the forgotten password link with your email, and the password will be sent to you.
If you missed the event, you'll soon be able to register and purchase the entire ASM for online catch up too.
Here at RA-UK we've been campaigning for a regional theme for the National Audit Project for years.
This time, we think we have a really strong chance, but we need your support.
The RCoA are looking for proposals, specifically with a regional theme. Please contact them using the info below:
Do you have a proposal for the 8th National Audit Project?
The RCoA Centre for Research and Improvement is accepting topic submissions for the 8th National Audit Project.
The National Audit Projects (NAPs) study anaesthesia-related complications of low incidence that are potentially serious for patients and important to patients and anaesthetists. NAPs are intended to examine, report on and drive improvements in practice.
Do you have a topic in mind that meets these criteria and would be suitable for NAP8?
How to Submit
To submit a topic for NAP8, please download and complete the proposal form and submit it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Guidance on Submissions
We would prefer topics related to regional anaesthesia, but topics not related to RA will also be considered.
As a guide we suggest the topic should be:
Important to patients
Important to anaesthetists
Incompletely studied in incidence or nature
Not suitable for study by other methodologies
You should also include information on any specialist societies or other organisations that may be suitable partners for your proposed topic, and whether you would be willing to act as clinical lead for the project.
Further Information
Information on previous NAPs can be found here. If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact Us.
CLOSING DATE: 5pm on Monday 12th June 2023
RAUK23 is over, and we are all having a little breather after an epic meeting. PIctured is our Bruce Scott lecturer, Prof Sandy Kopp, during an amazing lecture that covered mentorship, coaching and leadership.
We had seesions on POCUS, Neuraxial, Plan A (of course) and a joint session with the ICS. There was a spectacular conference dinner at the Baltic, with Prof MacFarlane leading the Celidh, followed bleary eyed into a breakfast EDI session on how to be an ally. Not forgetting a fair few May the Fourth be with you jokes. Block it Like its Hot boys met for a showdown on nerve stimulators, and many more amazing lectures to boot.
With over 600 delegates and faculty at the Gateshead Hilton, it was our biggest in person meeting held to date.
There were sad farewells from longstanding board members Dr Ash Gupta, and of course Dr Amit Pawa, along with welcomes to new board members Dr Jenny Ferry and Dr Nav Bahal. We also welcome our new coopted members; for paediatrics Dr Annabel Pearson and for meetings/seminars Dr Toby Ashken. Finally, we welcome our new trainee board member, Dr Mani Bahra.
Announcements included a series of free seminars we are running, starting in June on the Plan A blocks (and beyond). Watch the website and Twitter for further details on these. The big reveal was where our next AGM will be, which we are really excited to say is going to be London, featuring a BSL very close to our society, Dr Amit Pawa. Can't wait. If you missed any of the meeting while there, or if you want to see what you missed out on, you can catch up at https://www.ra-ukmeetings.com/ just as soon as Talking Slides finish editing the lectures (usually a week or so).
FInally, for those who've had their enthusaism sparked, don't forget to register for the RA-UK cadaveric anatomy and scanning course in Belfast on the 26th and 27th of May, a few places are left, and booking can be made on RA-UK. We will also be at Anaesthesia 2023 on 16-18th May with more demo sessions. See you soon, RAUK.
Posters for paediatric Plan A are now available for download in the new Paeds section of the Plan A subsite. Watch this area for more paediatric regional anaesthesia content coming soon.
Looking for regional anaesthesia courses or events to attend? Look at our Meetings Section which contains a list of forthcoming events, RA-UK Official courses are run by current or previous board members and part of the profit goes towards benefitting the society, RA-UK approved courses meet educational standards set by RA-UK, and we also advertise other courses internationaly for our members benefit.
Check out the RA-UK You-Tube channel - high quality video demonstrations of US guided blocks (videos available - Interscalene , Supraclavicular,Axillary,Radial, Median, Ulnar, Femoral,Proximal Sciatic, Popliteal, Tibial, Rectus, Ilioinguinal, TAP,and Epidural).
This second edition of the handbook covers the principles of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and the technique to perform all commonly used ultrasound-guided upper limb, lower limb, trunk and neuraxial blocks. It has been updated with all new images and sections on Quadratus Lumborum, Fascia Iliaca, Adductor Canal and Erector Spinae Block.
It is now available to order on Amazon at the bargain price of £22 inc p&p.
Courses can order in bulk (>15 copies) by emailing support@ra-uk.org.
