Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Anaesthesiology
1475
Preparation of drugs in theatre by non-medically qualified practitioners: A comparison of practice in cardiac centres in the United Kingdom.

R. Hunt,  P. Robbins, Cardiac Anaesthesia South West

Background and Goal of Study

The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) in-depth review for anaesthetics and intensive care in the UK has indicated that by 2033 there will be a shortfall of 3,800 consultants (33% of total workforce). The review suggests that a non-medically qualified workforce could usefully augment anaesthetic service delivery. Within our cardiac centre the operating department practitioners are trained to provide an
extended role including drawing up drugs for cases. The goal of this study is to assess current practice in other UK centres.

Materials and Methods

In June 2017, 37 cardiac centres in the UK were surveyed. 27/37 (73%) responded to an electronic survey relating to the practice of non-medically qualified personnel drawing up drugs for elective and emergency cases.

Results and Discussion

For elective cases 35% of centers allowed ODPs to draw up drugs, with 23% drawing up all drugs for all cases. 65% of respondents stated that the doctors draw up drugs.
For emergency cases this increases to 43%, with a reduction in the proportion of trainees performing the task.

Conclusion

In the majority of cardiac centres across the UK, drugs are prepared in theatre by doctors. In our centre we have successfully utilised ODPs to perform this task and suggest that other centres adopt this approach.

The data demonstrates that ODPs more commonly draw up drugs in theatre during emergency cases, when trainees are less available. Non-medically trained personnel are increasingly being used to perform tasks classically performed by doctors and this may help to address future workforce issues.

References

Workforce Data Pack 2016, https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/system/files/TRG WorkforceDataPack2016.pdf


03 / Preparation of drugs in theatre by non-medically qualified practitioners: A comparison of practice in cardiac centres in the United Kingdom.