The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland has today, September 13^th 2018, announced that the terms ‘anaesthesia’ and ‘anaesthetist’ will be replaced with ‘anaesthesiology’ and ‘anaesthesiologist’. To officially mark this terminology change, Minister for Health Simon Harris TD will unveil a plaque at the College in Merrion Square, renaming the College officially to the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland.

This terminology change is in line with global best practice and acknowledges the wider role of the anaesthesiologist. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesia (WFSA) defines anaesthesiology as the medical science and practice of anaesthesia. It includes subspecialty areas of practice, such as perioperative medicine, pain medicine, resuscitation, trauma management and intensive care medicine. The WFSA views the delivery of anaesthesia as a medical practice and an anaesthesiologist as a qualified physician who has completed a nationally-recognised medical training programme in anaesthesiology. The College balloted its Fellows and trainees earlier this year on the introduction of these terms in Ireland, with 60 per cent of those balloted voting in favour of the change.

President of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, Professor Kevin Carson, said; “This rebranding provides us with an opportunity to better inform the general public of the pivotal perioperative role anaesthesiologists play. Many people are unaware that we are highly qualified, specialist medical doctors involved in the management of patients during their full surgical journey, from the time of consideration of surgery, surgery itself, and after their discharge home.  Our coat of arms contains the wording “Salus Dum Vigilamus”, which is literally translated as “safety while we watch” – which speaks to our key role in patient safety.

“The physicians healing hand on our coat of arms serves as a reminder that in Ireland, all consultant anaesthesiologists are highly trained specialist physicians. However, we must be mindful that this situation is not replicated around the world. According to the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, 5 billion of the world’s population is without access to safe and affordable surgical care and anesthesiology. It is estimated that 143 billion additional surgical procedures are needed in low and middle-income countries each year. The WFSA has its mission to advance the profession around the world, ensuring that safe anesthesiology provision and training is led by anaesthesiologists, and this change in terminology is a key part in that mission.”