A brief history
The idea for the OAA first came about at an informal meeting at Liverpool Maternity Hospital on 24 March 1969. It was intended to provide an opportunity for professional social networking and support, as well as being a forum for clinical discussions.
The OAA was formally established in Glasgow in October 1970. Its first policy statements addressed the need for adequate and safe anaesthetic staffing in hospital obstetric units, the importance of widening the anaesthetist’s involvement in hospital maternity care, as well as expressing an intent to establish international contacts and collaboration. These are themes that continue to underpin the work of the OAA.
The early days of the OAA were devoted to discussions on developing epidural analgesia for labour and setting up and delivering safe epidural services in hospitals in which OAA members played a pivotable role.
From 42 people at the first meeting, the membership grew to 311 by 1975, and in 2021 was 2,379 members. The OAA is now the largest speciality anaesthetist society in the UK and the largest obstetric anaesthesia society in the world.
The early international outlook of the OAA is reflected by the fact that in 1975 the number of overseas members represented about 20% of the membership and this proportion has continued until the present day.
Note: This brief historical overview is based on the work of Richard Barnett, submitted as a doctoral thesis to the University of London and was part-funded by the OAA. (Barnett, R.; (2007) Obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia in England and Wales 1945-1975. Doctoral thesis , University of London.)
