About the Department

The anaesthetics team work closely with our surgical teams to limit the sensation of pain during procedures. Staff also work closely with our pain management and critical care teams.

Depending on your treatment, you may be given a local or general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist will discuss this with you before the procedure and this will allow you to ask any questions you may have. They will be with you throughout any surgical intervention to monitor your condition. There can be reactions to anaesthetic medication and this may depend on your health history. Our staff will be able to reduce or mitigate these risks.

You may be given an anaesthetic as an injection, gas, ointment, spray, or drops, depending on the type and procedure.

You may experience some side effects due to the anaesthesia. We will try to limit this but their may be nausea, headache, irritation, or soreness. These are natural and will pass quickly but can also be managed with medication. As with all surgical procedures, you will be kept in recovery until you are able to go back to the wards. In the case of day surgery, where the effects may be milder, you will be able to leave after a period of rest and under supervision from a friend or relative.

Types of Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia stops you feeling pain and other sensations. It can be given in various ways and does not always make you unconscious.

Local anaesthesia involves injections which numb a small part of your body. You stay conscious but free from pain.

Regional anaesthesia involves injections which numb a larger or deeper part of the body. You stay conscious but free from pain.

General anaesthesia gives a state of controlled unconsciousness. It is essential for some operations. You are unconscious and feel nothing.

Sedation is the use of small amounts of anaesthetic or similar drugs to produce a ‘sleepy-like’ state. It makes you physically and mentally relaxed during an investigation or procedure which may be unpleasant or painful (such as an endoscopy). You may remember a little about what happened or you may remember nothing.

Combining types of anaesthesia

Anaesthetic drugs and techniques are often combined, e.g.:

A regional anaesthetic may be given as well as a general anaesthetic to provide pain relief after the operation.
Sedation may be used with a regional anaesthetic. The regional or local anaesthetic prevents you from feeling pain, and the sedation makes you feel drowsy and mentally relaxed during the operation.

Further information on some types of regional anaesthetics is available in separate leaflets, or on the following website: www.youranaesthetic.info

Anaesthetists

Anaesthetists are doctors with specialist training who:

Discuss types of anaesthesia with you, hear your views, explain any choices available, and help you make those choices.
Discuss the risks of anaesthesia with you.
Agree a plan with you for your anaesthetic and pain control.
Are responsible for giving your anaesthetic and for your wellbeing and safety throughout your surgery.
Help to plan your care after the operation. This may be on a general ward, or, for patients with more complex medical problems, or having a major operation, in the High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit.

Our Clinical Team

The consulting team in the department are:

	Dr Laura ADAMS GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Melinda BRAZIER GMC: 3563247 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) Clinical audit (CENARG chair), paediatric dental ICU follow up clinic, ATLS Instructor
	Dr Tahira BUTT GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Jonathan COOPER GMC: 2747541 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU), "tricky trips" Clinical lead for acute pain, ALS Instructor, MIMMS Total IntraVenous Anaesthesia (TIVA)
	Dr Clare CUNNINGHAM GMC: 4294368 Consultant Anaesthetist Pre-Operative Assessment Clinics (POAC) Lead Obstetric and general paediatric anaesthesia Gynae, colorectal and orthopaedic anaesthesia
	Dr Michael DeVILE GMC: 6053293 Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine Critical care (ICU and HDU) ICU Clinical Information Systems Anaesthesia for trauma patients
	Dr Mark FLEET GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Richard GEORGE GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Obstetric anaesthesia Regional anaesthesia WHO checklist in theatres
	Dr Peter GREGORY GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Kiran GREWAL GMC: 3477173 Consultant Anaesthetist General adult anaesthetics Emergency CEPOD 1 list Vascular anaesthesia
	Dr Justin HEWS GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Philippa HIGGINS GMC: 4098809 Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular, gynae and upper GI anaesthesia CEPOD 1 emergencies and CEPOD 3 trauma ATLS Instructor, ALS Instructor
	Dr Toc HUSAIN GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Josie JONES GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Audrius JURGELIONIS GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Mark KUBLI GMC: 4067319 Consultant Anaesthetist Total IntraVenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) High risk patients clinic, ATLS Instructor Anaesthesia for trauma patients, bariatrics
	Dr Anja KUTTLER GMC: 4158529 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialised paediatric anaesthetics High risk patients POAC and CPET Educational supervisor
	Dr Fiona LLOYD JONES GMC: 3251490 Consultant Anaesthetist Obstetric anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia Clinical governance lead for anaesthetics Anaesthesia for spinal surgery
	Dr Mark MACGREGOR GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Clinical Lead for Vascular Anaesthesia High risk anaesthetic vascular clinic Regional blocks, Orthopaedic anaesthesia
	Dr Zain MALIK GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Robert MENZIES GMC: 4543440 Consultant Anaesthetist RCA tutor, paediatric and regional anaesthesia Bariatric anaesthesia, difficult airway joint lead SCReaM project joint lead, sim lab trainer
	Dr Alenka MILES GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Bariatric anaesthesia Anaesthesia for trauma patients ATLS Instructor
	Dr Mike PARRIS GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist MSC chair Critical care (ICU and HDU) Vascular anaesthesia
	Dr Anthony PARSONS GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) Anaesthesia for trauma patients Trainee teaching programme lead for CCU
	Dr Shilpa PATEL GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Jonathan PIPE GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Caroline POCKNALL GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Martin RAYMOND GMC: 4536477 Consultant Anaesthetist Anaesthetic Lead for Trauma and Hip Fractures Trauma, bariatric surgery, regional anaesthesia Anaesthetic trainee educational supervisor
	Dr David ROBINSON GMC: 3065787 Consultant Anaesthetist Difficult airway joint clinical lead Adult and paediatric anaesthesia, ATLS Instructor MIMMS, Major Incident Lead for Anaesthetics
	Dr Mark SAPSFORD GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Nik SHAH GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) outreach lead Lead for “tricky trips” patient transfers (STricT) Anaesthesia for paediatric MRI, ALS Instructor
	Dr Namita SHARMA GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
	Dr Karthik SOMASUNDARAM GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) Anaesthesia for paediatric MRI Emergency CEPOD 1 list, nutrition audit
	Dr Moira WATTIE GMC: 4028109 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialty Lead for Day Surgery Day case anaesthesia Regional anaesthesia
	Dr Ian WHITE GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) Nutrition and research into Critical Care CEPOD 1 list
	Dr Lara WIJAYASIRI GMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular anaesthesia Clinical governance CEPOD 1 emergencies

Specialist Nursing

Our specialist nursing team provide the following care:

Post operative pain management;
Management of acute pain due to trauma, pancreatitis and other conditions;
Management of epidural analgesia and patient controlled analgesia;
Advice regarding prescribing for acute pain;
Acute back pain

Our Location

We are based in the theatre departments on both sites. At St Peter's this is the building adjacent to the outpatients block on the third floor. At Ashford, the theatre unit is in the centre of the main building.

Anaesthetics