CHAPTER 17 - Anaesthesia service provision for maternity services

Summary

This chapter describes the level of service required from anaesthesia departments providing services for obstetric units. In addition to clinical duties, consultant anaesthetists are involved in teaching, training, administration, research and audit. The Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA) and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) jointly published Guidelines for Obstetric Anaesthesia Services. These guidelines aim at developing national standards for maternity care. A clear line of communication from the duty anaesthetist to the on-call consultant should be assured at all times. All obstetric departments should provide and regularly update clinical protocols, which should be readily accessible. Obstetric units with an anaesthesia service should have a nominated consultant responsible for training in obstetric anaesthesia and there should be induction programmes for all new members of staff, including locums. There should be an audit programme in place to audit anaesthetic complication rates, such as accidental dural puncture.