Background and Aims:
Since their first publication in the mid-1990’s, ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia techniques have gained increasing popularity and are integral to the Royal College of Anaesthetists [RCOA] training curriculum. Education and training are essential to develop these skills. As limited study budgets are available, those who do not want to subspecialise in regional anaesthesia may be reluctant to spend a large proportion of their budget.
Methods:
We developed a course that was beyond the scope of basic workshops and would appeal to intermediate level trainees as either a stepping stone to an advanced workshop or as a cost-effective alternative for trainees who sought to develop their skills further. The course program was mapped to the RCOA curriculum and matrix.
Results
This course was approved for 5 external RCOA continuing professional development points. The cost was £125 and the course was oversubscribed. The feedback suggested that the course was a great success.  All fifteen attendees thought that the pre-course material was helpful and appropriate, the practical stations were useful and well delivered, and that they would recommend the course to a colleague. All the candidates except one (who answered neutral) felt more confident about performing the regional blocks which they had studied.
Conclusions:
Universal agreement on the most effective way to teach ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia has still not been reached. However, we believe that there is a need for a cost effective intermediate level workshop for anaesthetic trainees. We have demonstrated that with the right planning, dedicated experienced faculty, this can be delivered efficaciously

INTERMEDIATE ULTRASOUND GUIDED REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA TRAINING – RECOGNISING A GAP IN THE MARKET