ANAESTHETISTS at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) have been recognised for providing high quality care to patients.

The anaesthetic department received the prestigious Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA).

ACSA is the RCoA’s peer-reviewed scheme that promotes the highest standards of anaesthetic service.

To receive accreditation, departments are expected to demonstrate high standards in areas such as patient experience, patient safety and clinical leadership. The RBH department received the award at a ceremony on Friday (Sept 14)

Dr John Ward Consultant anaesthetist and care group medical lead at RBH said: “Working through the ACSA process has bought our whole department together as a team, working on a project which reflects the quality of care we strive to deliver daily.

“As a process, it may seem daunting initially, but the output is well worth the effort and the satisfaction of achieving accreditation across our whole department is very motivating”

Meanwhile, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists Dr Liam Brennan said: “With anaesthetists caring for two thirds of all hospital inpatients, patient safety is at the heart of ACSA accreditation.

“The achievement and maintenance of ACSA’s robust standards encourage departments to constantly improve the care they provide.

“Our team found excellent teamwork between anaesthetists and with other clinicians and non-clinicians with impressive support from all levels of management within the trust.

“I would like to personally congratulate the anaesthetists at Bournemouth for their commitment to providing the best possible care for their patients.”