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:
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Dr Laura ADAMSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Melinda BRAZIERGMC: 3563247 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Tahira BUTTGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Jonathan COOPERGMC: 2747541 Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU), "tricky trips" |
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Dr Clare CUNNINGHAMGMC: 4294368 Consultant Anaesthetist Pre-Operative Assessment Clinics (POAC) Lead |
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Dr Michael DeVILEGMC: 6053293 Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Mark FLEETGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Richard GEORGEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Obstetric anaesthesia |
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Dr Peter GREGORYGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Kiran GREWALGMC: 3477173 Consultant Anaesthetist General adult anaesthetics |
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Dr Justin HEWSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Philippa HIGGINSGMC: 4098809 Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular, gynae and upper GI anaesthesia |
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Dr Toc HUSAINGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Josie JONESGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Audrius JURGELIONISGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Mark KUBLIGMC: 4067319 Consultant Anaesthetist Total IntraVenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) |
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Dr Anja KUTTLERGMC: 4158529 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialised paediatric anaesthetics |
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Dr Fiona LLOYD JONESGMC: 3251490 Consultant Anaesthetist Obstetric anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia |
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Dr Mark MACGREGORGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Clinical Lead for Vascular Anaesthesia |
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Dr Zain MALIKGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Robert MENZIESGMC: 4543440 Consultant Anaesthetist RCA tutor, paediatric and regional anaesthesia |
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Dr Alenka MILESGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Bariatric anaesthesia |
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Dr Mike PARRISGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist MSC chair |
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Dr Anthony PARSONSGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Shilpa PATELGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Jonathan PIPEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Caroline POCKNALLGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Martin RAYMONDGMC: 4536477 Consultant Anaesthetist Anaesthetic Lead for Trauma and Hip Fractures |
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Dr David ROBINSONGMC: 3065787 Consultant Anaesthetist Difficult airway joint clinical lead |
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Dr Mark SAPSFORDGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Nik SHAHGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) outreach lead |
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Dr Namita SHARMAGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist
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Dr Karthik SOMASUNDARAMGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Moira WATTIEGMC: 4028109 Consultant Anaesthetist Specialty Lead for Day Surgery |
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Dr Ian WHITEGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist and Intensivist Critical care (ICU and HDU) |
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Dr Lara WIJAYASIRIGMC: Consultant Anaesthetist Vascular anaesthesia |
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.