Please note that deliveries of the handbook to new members is taking longer than usual at the moment. This is because the Association of Anaesthetists (who manage our membership services) are largely remote working at the moment. Handbooks are sent out in bulk when they go into the London office. This situation will improve as the Tier restrictions ease. Amazon deliveries of handbooks ordered online are unaffected. Thanks
New for 2021, members can join RAUK and ESRA using our new online membership service. This will be a (hopefully) seamless process now, getting rid of the old paper applications.
We are using GoCardless to process our direct debits. When signing up, you will be directed to a GoCardless page where you can securely enter your bank details. Your bank details are not passed onto us, and GoCardless uses the highest levels of encryption to prevent fraud. This method is used by a number of other specialist societies under the umbrella of the Association of Anaesthetists, so is tried and tested.
New members wanting to send direct debit authorisation by paper can still do so via the membership email at the association, but please note that this will be slower.
Finally, we have uploaded a chunk of the RA-UK handbook online as a member benefit. You will receive an email in the coming weeks with instructions how to access this, and we will endeavour to put the remaining chapters online in due course.
RAUK
Fascia Iliaca blocks and non-physician practitioners
Thursday 23 January 2020
Early administration of a fascia iliaca block is recommended in patients with fractured neck of femur to reduce pain and use of opioid analgesia.1
Since the last joint statement from Regional Anaesthesia-UK (RA-UK) and the Association of Anaesthetists in 2013,2the use and availability of ultrasound for performance of the fascia iliaca block has increased.This has also led to the development of several ultrasound guided approaches to the fascia iliaca block which are more reliable than the traditional landmark approach.
The ultrasound guided infra-inguinal approach to the fascia iliaca block uses a similar needle insertion point to the landmark approach, distant from neurovascular structures. This approach allows visual confirmation of local anaesthetic spread in the correct anatomical plane, deep to the fascia iliaca.3
Read more: New RA-UK statement about FICB and non-physician practitioners
We are proud to present our new Plan A blocks poster, high resolution PDFs are downloadable by clicking on each poster.
After our annual board meeting yesterday, we are happy to announce that we have 2 new board members: Maria Sebastian and Jonathan Womack. We also welcome back Ashwani Gupta for a second term, and have a new trainee representative, Dr Toby Ashken.
In other changes, firstly, we say a fond farewell to Dr Morne Wolmarans, possibly the longest serving, and certainly one of our very best board members. He will continue to look after our UK RA interests within ESRA, and we expect to see him at the new improved Covid free ASM next year. We also say goodbye to our trainee rep Jim Parry, who, having gained a substantive post at Stanmore last year, is now replaced by Toby. We thank him for his hard work on the board, and again, will catch up soon at the many meetings and courses up and down the country. Finally, we give great thanks to Tim Moll who was coopted onto council for the last year to organise the ASM in Sheffield 2020. His hard work will not be in vain, however, as we have a special announcement soon about RA-UK 2021.
Secondly, we have a few position changes, Lloyd Turbitt has become our new treasurer, as Alan Macfarlane was unanimously voted our new president elect. He will take up his term of office when Amit Pawa steps down in 2021. Nat Haslam continues as honorary secretary, and we intend to co-opt Simeon West as webmaster/comms (to be ratified at the next AGM).
And finally, in view of our ASM in Sheffield unfortunately being cancelled, we have elected to run our Annual General Meeting virtually. This will be at 7:30 on the evening of 26th May. It will be held as a Zoom meeting (surprise, surprise). Any ordinary member who wishes to join, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will send you the secure link.
RA-UK are very sorry to have to announce the cancellation of our 2-day Annual Scientific meeting scheduled for 18-19th May 2020 in Sheffield.
We have been following the global developments surrounding COVID-19 very closely and we are all agreed that the safety of our delegates, faculty, and the community as a whole must take priority. We were due to have a large attendance with faculty and delegates from all over the UK and the rest of the world. Such a public gathering of front-line staff who are likely to be called upon to deal with patients with COVID-19 was too great a risk to take.
We assure you that this is not a decision we have taken lightly. This was set to be the most successful RA-UK meeting yet because of your support and enthusiasm for Regional Anaesthesia and POCUS education. RA-UK are very sorry for the inconvenience that this will undoubtedly have caused.
All delegates, faculty and industry sponsors have been informed.
Delegates will be refunded their registration over the coming weeks. For international refunds there may be a small administrative charge.
Once we have successfully dealt with whatever the next few months bring us, we will launch our 2021 meeting (#RAUK21) which is already being planned and the dates are 29th April – 1st May 2021. We look forward to welcoming you and seeing you then.
Once again, please accept our sincere apologies and we thank you for your support and understanding
I would also like to personally extend my thanks to: Dr Tim Moll and Dr Kim Russon, along with the rest of the Sheffield Local organising team, our event management company EMD, and all of our faculty for the hard work they dedicated to designing and preparing for this meeting.
With my very best wishes,
Dr Amit Pawa
We are pleased to announce a new section of the website entitled Plan A blocks.
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