Anaesthetics rolls out smarter training | News

A life‑threatening airway emergency may be rare, but when it happens, every second counts.

That’s why the Anaesthetics team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has taken a fresh approach to keeping staff confident and prepared - by putting essential training on wheels.

The innovative ‘tea‑trolley teaching’ model, introduced by Consultant Anaesthetist and airway lead Dr Sarah Eshelby and led by Dr Hussein Al‑Hadeethi, Specialty Doctor in Anaesthetics, brings short, focused simulation sessions directly into the anaesthetic room.

Instead of staff having to leave clinical areas or juggle schedules, the training comes to them - complete with airway manikins and expert facilitators.

The programme launched in 2024 and now runs twice a year across Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals, reaching the full breadth of the anaesthetic workforce, including consultants, SAS doctors, trainees, ODPs and recovery nurses.

SAS doctors and trainees have also played a key role in delivering the sessions, helping build a sustainable, collaborative teaching model.

At the heart of the training is the management of ‘Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate’ (CICO) - an exceptionally rare but high‑risk emergency where rapid, coordinated action is vital. Because these events are so uncommon, simulation is essential to maintaining team readiness.

The tea‑trolley format allows teams to practice technical skills, decision‑making and communication in short, high‑impact bursts that fit seamlessly into the working day.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Staff report feeling more confident, clearer about team roles and better prepared for airway emergencies.

This year, the content has been updated in line with the latest Difficult Airway Society guidelines, ensuring training remains aligned with national best practice.

By making essential training convenient, accessible and engaging, the tea‑trolley model is strengthening patient safety while supporting busy clinical teams.