Who are  Anaesthetists?

Specialist Anaesthetists are medical doctors who specialise in caring for patients before, during and after surgical procedures.  After finishing their medical degree, a specialist anaesthetist completes a further five years of training in anaesthesia.  This specialist training is supervised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). Anaesthetists have extensive knowledge of medicine and surgery, physiology (how the body works), and pharmacology (how medications work in the body).    Anaesthetists play a pivotal role in keeping patients safe during and after surgery.  Throughout their careers, anaesthetists update their skills regularly, attending professional development sessions and participating in a continuing medical education program by ANZCA.