Building confidence in performing and teaching regional anaesthesia

This event is for Healthcare Professionals only (HCPs).

EVENT INFORMATION

Regional anaesthesia is an essential component of modern anaesthetic practice. The Royal College of Anaesthetists’ curriculum requires trainees to develop competence in regional techniques for the upper and lower limbs, chest and abdominal wall, and the seven Plan A blocks offer a practical core repertoire spanning key areas of surgery and acute pain.

However, a national mixed-methods study by Zhang et al. identified a substantial gap between these expectations and current consultant confidence. Among 369 UK consultant and specialist anaesthetists, only 22.0% felt confident performing all seven Plan A blocks and just 19.5% felt confident teaching them all. These results were replicated locally in South Wales and it was found that peer-led learning was the most effective approach to bridging the gap.

BLOCKED Consultant Only Regional Anaesthesia Training - Cardiff was developed specifically in response to this national need.

Designed exclusively for consultant anaesthetists, the course provides a supportive, safe space learning environment in which every delegate receives dedicated 1:1 practical teaching from expert consultant regional anaesthesia faculty. There is no formal assessment and no expectation of advanced previous experience. The course has been successfully delivered and refined across Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards. Feedback has been consistently excellent, with delegates particularly valuing the one-to-one faculty support, live ultrasound scanning, needle practice, peer discussion and advice on teaching and supervising trainees. All respondents to course evaluations have said that they would recommend it to their colleagues.

Following this success, the course is now launching nationally as part of our BLOCKED programme in collaboation with B. Braun Medical Ltd.

Reference

Zhang X, Vanstone RJ, Turbitt L, West S, Harty E. Regional anaesthesia education for consultants and specialists in the UK: a mixed-methods analysis. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2024;132(5):1073–1081. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2024.01.032.

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WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE DIFFERENT?

This is an entirely practical, half day, intensive course designed around the needs of the individual delegate.

Before attending, delegates identify the Plan A blocks and other aspects of regional anaesthesia in which they would most value additional experience. Faculty then tailor the content and pace to each delegate’s existing skills, confidence, job plan and clinical practice.

The course is deliberately designed to avoid being a rapid checklist covering all seven Plan A blocks in a single session. Instead, delegates will typically focus intensively on four or five selected Plan A blocks that are most relevant to their job plan. This provides meaningful time for live ultrasound scanning on volunteer models, image optimisation, anatomical identification, probe handling, ergonomics, pro tips, troubleshooting and discussion of clinical supervision.

Each delegate may also nominate one additional “off-piste” block, agreed in advance and selected to reflect their specialist interests. Examples might include a quadratus lumborum, interpectoral & pecto-serratus (PECS 1 & 2) or serratus anterior plane block.

Alongside technical skills, the course explores practical approaches to teaching, supervising and giving feedback to anaesthetists in training.

Having run the course multiple times across South Wales, we have found the half day structure to me more than enough, given its intensive 1:1 nature.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Any consultant anaesthetist who would like to refresh, consolidate or extend their confidence in regional anaesthesia, whether to support their own clinical practice, improve their supervision of trainees or both.

The course is suitable for consultants with varying levels of previous regional anaesthesia experience. It is designed as supportive, peer-level continuing professional development rather than an assessment of existing competence.

WHY ATTEND?

Exclusively for consultant anaesthetists

Dedicated 1:1 practical teaching

An entirely practical format, with no traditional didactic lectures

A supportive learning environment without assessment or expectation of advanced prior experience

Teaching tailored to each delegate’s confidence, job plan and clinical practice

Live ultrasound scanning and needle practice with immediate expert feedback

Practical strategies for teaching, supervising and giving feedback to trainees

We also aim to cover any “off-piste” block requests, tailored to the delegate’s specialist interests

Skills and confidence that can be translated directly into clinical and educational practice

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, delegates will be better able to:

Identify and optimise the relevant sono

Description supplied by the event organiser.