Regional anaesthesia education for consultants and specialists in the UK: a mixed-methods analysis.

Background: Regional anaesthesia plays an important role in perioperative care, but gaps in proficiency persist among consultants and specialists. This study aimed to assess confidence levels in performing Plan A blocks among this cohort and to examine the barriers and facilitators influencing regional anaesthesia education.

Methods: Utilising a mixed-methods design, we performed a quantitative survey to gauge self-reported confidence in performing Plan A blocks, coupled with qualitative interviews to explore the complexities of educational barriers and facilitators.

Adopting the day surgery default in the provision of lumbar discectomy and decompressive surgery.

Introduction: Provision of day case spinal procedures in the UK is below expected standards and there is a need for the creation of guidance and patient pathways to address this. Here we present a day case lumbar discectomy protocol and evaluate its impact at our institution.

Methods: A new pathway (incorporating defined selection criteria, patient education, anaesthetic protocol and discharge prescriptions) was implemented for all suitable patients within a single surgeon's cohort.