Referral to anaesthetists
(These guidelines first displayed in March 2010)
| Number submitted |
5 |
| Minimum pages |
1 |
| Maximum pages |
2 |
| Wider scope |
Maternal risk assessment at booking |
| General points |
- Units list the conditions which warrant referral to an anaesthetist – some more detailed and specific than others
- Most had clear instructions of who to contact and how
- Many local-policy specific
- Only one of the submissions contained a standard form for the anaesthetist to fill out when seeing patients who have been referred
|
| We liked |
- Some introduction explaining role of anaesthetic antenatal clinic and practicalities of referral
- Easy readability with conditions for referral arranged system wise (St George) or under other broad headings. (Cornwall)
- Clear instructions for referral- contact details and location of clinic provided
- Well structured referral letter
- Including in the guideline the option of contacting the anaesthetist in cases where a patient may not fit into the categories identified
- Instructions for taking a serum sample in patients with suspected Scoline apnoea prior to referral
|
| We didn't like |
- Poor presentation of the document with listing of conditions for referral without any apparent grouping or organisation under headings
- Exhaustive, huge lists including extremely rare conditions (people won’t read them)
- Lack of references
- Not having clear contact details or not having clear instructions of how to make a referral i.e. letter or phone or email
|
| Not sure |
- Whether it is good idea to have conditions for referring to obstetrician and anaesthetist on the same form. (Cornwall)
|
| Other points |
- Varying cut off of BMI for referral – many do not see all patients with BMI >35 routinely. (see OAA survey 66 Smith et al. Int J Obstet Anesth 2007;16:S37)
|
