The Royal College of Anaesthetists

"...audit is not an endpoint, but a starting point for improvement"

As part of Clinical Audit Awareness Week, the NCAPC team talk about the aims of the audit, their approach and how you can get involved on our blog

Read more 👉 https://ow.ly/5PEb50ZgQRx

Celebrating a decade of the Surgical Outcome Risk Tool (SORT) 🙌

Since its introduction in 2014, SORT has provided healthcare professionals with robust, evidence-based assessments of 30-day mortality risk for adult surgical inpatients.

Join us in marking this milestone by participating in the NCEPOD survey 📝

🔗 Take the survey https://ow.ly/Mkt550Zbq5w

We’re inviting applications to join our Portfolio Assessment Group (PAG).

As a PAG member, you’ll play a vital role in assessing applications for entry to the GMC Specialist Register via the Portfolio Pathway.

Members meet monthly, receive comprehensive training and support, earn CPD points for assessments, and are invited to an annual PAG event.

If you're interested in contributing to the future of anaesthesia, apply now 👉 https://ow.ly/azbn50Zaqih

We’re excited to announce that nominations for our PatientsVoices@RCoA Awards 2027 are now open!

These awards celebrate innovative projects and initiatives that have significantly enhanced patients’ experiences of anaesthesia and perioperative care.

If you or your team have worked on a project that has made a real difference to patients’ experiences of anaesthesia and perioperative care, we invite you to learn more about the nomination process.

Visit our website and read about this year's winners 👉https://ow.ly/8tZ650ZfUpI

Our Centre for Research and Improvement has been awarded the commission to develop and run the National Clinical Audit of Perioperative Care (NCAPC).

NCAPC is part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP), overseen by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) and funded by NHS England.

NCAPC will work closely alongside our Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) and other stakeholders.

This , learn about NCAPC by listening to an interview with our Clinical Co-leads Professor Malcolm West and Dr Tim Baker, and our Quality Improvement lead Dr Samantha Warnakulasuriya 👉 https://ow.ly/ML0K50Zg9jx

One week to apply!

The NIAA is seeking a Deputy Chair to join Professor Ramani Moonesinghe in leading perioperative research.

If you’re eager to collaborate with national partners, influence innovation, and help shape the future of anaesthesia, this is your chance to make a real impact!

Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/c2kE50Z6I0z

Join the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) free webinar tomorrow, and hear from NHS England's Chief Executive, Sir James Mackey and other experts on how clinical audit and data are driving healthcare improvement.

Theme: Shaping the Future Together: Innovation and Transformation 🙌

Part of Clinical Audit Awareness Week.

Register now—spaces are limited 👉 https://ow.ly/wakx50ZfTQi

This , Dr Ee-Neng Loh and Angeline Price explore the care of patients who do not undergo emergency laparotomy (NoLap).

In their blog, they highlight the importance of shared decision-making, holistic multidisciplinary care, and ensuring patients and families understand that choosing not to have surgery does not mean choosing no treatment.

As the national NoLap data collection continues, understanding and improving care for this patient group remains essential.

Read the blog on how we can provide the best care possible—whether surgery is part of the plan or not 👉 https://rcoa.ac.uk/blog/nolap-rethinking-emergency-laparotomy-patients

Save the date for our annual Anaesthesia Research Meeting, where we'll be advancing science and transforming care

The Anaesthesia Research Meeting is a premier event showcasing the latest in anaesthesia and perioperative research.

Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or trainee, this is your opportunity to engage with the future of anaesthesia.

Earn 10 CPD credits for attending.

Book now 👉 https://ow.ly/sSJX50ZaweZ

Data Retention and Deletion Project

We are continuing to progress our data retention work to improve system performance, cost efficiency, and overall reliability, while ensuring full compliance with the College Data Retention Policy.

As part of this, we are undertaking a phased data deletion programme. Under the policy, learner data is retained for seven years following the award of a CCT. After this period, most learner data must be permanently deleted.

What does this mean for you?
➡️The first phase will apply to users who achieved their CCT between August 2018 and December 2018.
➡️In October 2026, we will begin notifying users who achieved their CCT between January 2018 and July 2018. If you fall within these groups, your learner data will be scheduled for deletion in line with the policy.
➡️All affected users will receive a direct email from the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLP) team with further details.

If you are unsure, please email: [email protected]

Timescale:
Phase 1: August 2026
➡️Phase 1, planned for implementation in August 2026, will focus on reducing historic data volumes:
➡️Learner-role data will be deleted after the seven-year retention period
➡️Logbook and document store data will be retained to support ongoing CPD needs
➡️Historic CPD events and attachments that no longer add value will also be removed

For further information 👉 https://ow.ly/yUG750Zavzm