E-Learning

There are a range of resources available on this page.
You can use the buttons to navigate the page.

Additional Resources
Further topic-specific resources are available on the Courses and Study Days page divided into Primary, Final, and Post-Fellowship Teaching

Please complete electronic feedback forms on video content that you watch

Welsh Paediatric Anaesthesia e-learning videos

A series of e-learning videos for paediatric anaesthesia is being created by Dr Gordon Leslie (Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist) and Dr Gareth Thomas along with several other senior anaesthetic trainees. The tutorials can be accessed via the following hyperlinks along with a link to an electronic feedback form:

Pre-operative Anxiety - Feedback form
Trauma, transfer & resus - Feedback form
Paediatric general surgery - Feedback form
Paediatric cardiac conditions - Feedback form
Paediatric ENT surgery - Feedback form

Welsh Novice Obstetric Anaesthesia e-learning videos

A series of e-learning videos aimed at trainees undertaking Initial Assessment of Obstetric Anaesthesia Competences has been developed by Dr Mike Adamson, Dr Kathryn James & Dr Gareth Thomas along with many trainees from the school. The tutorials are taken from the content of the Oxford Handbook of Obstetric Anaesthesia 2nd edition 2020 - Edited by Dr Rachel Collis, Dr Sarah Harries and Dr Abrie Theron. The tutorials can be accessed via the following hyperlinks.

An introduction to working on labour ward - Feedback form
Anatomical changes in pregnancy - Feedback form
Physiological changes in pregnancy - Feedback form
Pharmacological changes in pregnancy - Feedback form
An introduction to labour analgesia - Feedback form
Epidural for labour analgesia - Feedback form
Remifentanil PCA for labour - Feedback form
De novo regional anaesthesia for caesarean section - Feedback form
General anaesthesia for caesarean section - Feedback form
Epidural top up for caesarean section - Feedback form
Pregnancy associated hypertension - Feedback form
Obstetric Haemorrhage - Feedback form
Dural puncture - Feedback form
Total spinal - Feedback form
The postpartum anaesthetic review - Feedback form
Anaesthesia for obstetric procedures other than caesarean section - Feedback form

Cardiothoracic anaesthesia E-learning module

An innovative cardiothoracic teaching module to supplement clinical training has been devised by Dr Caroline Evans, Consultant Cardiac Anaesthetist for the Welsh School of Anaesthesia. The current elearning programme is being updated for 2021 and the new lecture content will gradually be released onto the Welsh School of Anaesthesia website. All new lecture content will be added when available and will be freely accessible through hyperlinks below. Please fill in the electronic feedback forms when you watch a video presentation.

Pre-operative assessment in cardiac surgery
Bleeding and haemostasis in cardiac surgery
Arrhythmias; the basics
Cardiopulmonary bypass
Mechanical circulatory support
Management of low cardiac output
Mitral valve anatomy
Mitral stenosis
Mitral regurgitation
Aortic valve disease
The aorta and aortic pathology; anatomy of the aorta and coronary circulation
Early complications after cardiac surgery - Feedback form
Anaesthesia for heart transplant
Pre-operative assessment for thoracic surgery
Anaesthesia for thoracic surgery
Anaesthesia for lung transplant

Welsh Pain Medicine E-Learning

We recognise that the availability of pain medicine training has been significantly impacted by COVID. A new innovative and interactive pain medicine training programme has been released for all trainees, following exceptional developmental work by Dr Kate Wainwright, Dr Richard Wassall and Dr Sonia Pierce.

Six scenarios are now available to work through via Welsh Pain Medicine either with your Faculty Tutor for Pain Medicine or independently. A certificate can be downloaded once the scenario is completed, to then upload to your LLP. Your feedback on the scenarios is also welcome.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine has also developed a useful learning resource, which can be found via FPM Learning

Regional Anaesthesia

Plan A Block Recipe Cards
Please also see the Plan A block recipe cards that are free to download. These teaching resources were developed with the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia to promote a recognised, repeatable method of performing basic blocks that trainees can use in any hospital.

Regional Anaesthesia Video Tutorials
A series of video tutorials have been created for regional anaesthesia blocks. These presentations can be accessed via the following hyperlinks along with their accompanying feedback forms.
The basics of ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia by Dr Farzad Saadat and Mostafa Elsayed.
Erector spine plane blocks by Dr James Lloyd and Dr Mike Adamson - Feedback form
Serratus anterior plane blocks by Dr Chris James and Dr James Lloyd - Feedback form
Brachial plexus blocks by Dr Umesh Ramesh
Adductor canal block by Dr Jaiker Vora and Dr James Lloyd - Feedback form
Sciatic nerve block at the popliteal fossa by Dr Jaiker Vora and Dr James Lloyd
Supra-inguinal fascia iliaca block by Dr Farzad Saadat and Dr Alex Kennedy - Feedback form
Ultrasound for neuraxial anaesthesia by Dr James Lloyd and Dr Raf Baraz - Feedback form

Toronto Spine
Toronto Hopsital have an excellent online virtual scanning resource for lumbar neuraxial ultrasound scanning. Its well worth working through their module that can be accessed via this hyperlink:
Ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia, virtual lumbar spine

RA-UK
RA-UK have a developed an educational resource for basic level regional anaesthesia blocks. They have a a list of seven "Plan A" blocks that cover the key areas of surgery/acute pain, and suggested that every anaesthetist should be proficient in these. Please access this useful resource via the following link:
Plan A blocks RA-UK

Research

An important starting place for developing research skills is to complete the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) course. GCP course covers important competencies relevant to research. It is delivered by NIHR and can be accessed here.

Health & Care Research Wales (HCRW) runs a variety of free courses that will cover the basics of clinical research training. The HCRW courses can be accessed here.

It is recommended that trainees consider completing the one hour Basics of PI course (online) that can be accessed here.

Trainees can then consider moving through any relevant courses including further PI training and then get involved with clinical research via the Associate PI Scheme.

Other resources available within the Welsh School of Anaesthesia include the research resources available as part of the GPC video lecture series. There is also an annual research study day as part of the PFSD programme.

FRCA-Revision.com

FRCA-Revision.com is a website created by Dr Simon Slinn (Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, University Hospital of Wales). It contains useful resource for trainees preparing for the Final FRCA exam, including practice CRQs. The website also has a novel anatomy elearning programme that has been developed br Dr Jen Myo and Dr Ben Sherif; this is a useful resource for both the primary and final FRCA exams.

The Welsh School of Anaesthesia QI Programme

The Welsh School QI training programme is delivered in collaboration with the HEIW QIST section and the Improvement Cymru Academy (formerly 1000 Lives Improvement). The school supports a range of e-learning; virtual and face to face QI training workshops; and other QI resources. The QI programme is lead by Dr Gethin Pugh, RCoA QI Regional Lead for Wales: Gethin.Pugh@wales.nhs.uk

Quality Improvement e-learning module
Bronze IQT is an e-learning module produced by Improvement Cymru that introduces the concepts that underpin QI principles in medical practice. Completion of Bronze IQT can be recorded and evidenced in the RCoA LLP. This open access resource can be accessed at:
Bronze IQT.

QIST Quality Improvement Workshops
The Welsh School of Anaesthesia offers two different QI training workshops for anaesthetists and intensivists in training. The workshops are normally held twice a year. Workshops are open to both Consultants/trainers and anaesthetists in training. Individuals should complete Bronze IQT prior to attending a workshop.

  • QIST Fundamentals of Improvement in Anaesthesia and ICM. This is a one-day introduction to the principles of Quality Improvement for anaesthetists in training and trainers, who are new to Improvement. The workshop is recommended for individuals at CT2 level and above.
  • QIST Improvement in Practice in Anaesthesia and ICM (formerly Silver IQT). This is a project focused two-day interactive workshop programme that builds on the understanding of the Fundamentals of Improvement workshop. As part of the workshop, individuals have the opportunity to complete a Quality Improvement project. The content of the workshop is mapped against the Annex G of the RCoA Curriculum.

If you have any questions or are interested in attending either of the QI training workshops, please see the HEIW QIST webpage or contact HEIW QIST via HEIW.QIST@wales.nhs.uk.

RCoA Quality Improvement Compendium
In September 2020, the RCoA launched Raising the Standards: RCoA Quality Improvement Compendium. This innovative resource provides further guidance for QI and audit activities across all areas of anaesthesia and is also mapped to national programmes such as the National Audit Project recommendations and National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA). It can be accessed here.

E-Learning

RCoA Education and Professional Development

RCoA e-Learning Anaesthesia (e-LA)
e-LA delivers the knowledge and key concepts that underpin the anaesthetic curriculum and will help trainees prepare for the FRCA examination. e-LA offers the following components:
- e-Learning Sessions - Over 750 knowledge and scenario based sessions covering the first two years of the anaesthetic curriculum. Each session takes around 20-30 minutes to complete.
- Primary FRCA revision guides - New from July 2020. 3 comprehensive revision guides (pharmacology, physiology & physics) for the primary FRCA. The PDFs are free to download from the RCOA e-Learning anaesthesia website.
- e-Library - free and direct access to thousands of full-text journal articles which have been cross-referenced and mapped to the anaesthetic curriculum.
- e-CPD - articles and associated MCQs to support general and core topic based continuing professional development for trainees and trainers
- e-Assessment - formative assessments with feedback that will test the user's understanding of the knowledge based sessions and introduce students to the standard expected at the FRCA exam

RCoA Educational videos

RCoA Educational podcasts

RCoA Novice Guide

The Royal College of Anaesthetists Guide for Novice Trainees tells you everything you need to know for the first 3-6 months of Anaesthetics RCoA Novice Guide.

RCoA NovPod series

The RCOA have developed a podcast miniseries to accompany the RCoA Novice Guide. It's intended as a friendly, lighthearted introduction for new anaesthetic trainees, featuring insights and reflections from other trainees, consultants and operating department practitioners. The Novpod series can be accessed via this link.

E-Learning

Association of Anaesthetists Learn@

Learn@ is an educational platform that can be accessed online and via a smartphone app where Association of Anaesthetists members can find a range educational and CPD resources including high quality videos and lectures. You need to be a member to access the full range of resources but some are available free to non members. You can learn in your own time and keep a record of your completed CPD for portfolio purposes. The resources are well catalogued with content for Primary FRCA, Final FRCA and Post Fellowship.

Obstetrics Anaesthetist's Association (OAA) exam resources

The OAA have a range of exam resources available to its trainee members. They can be accessed via this link.

North West Deanery Primary & Final Tutorials

Shielding trainees in North West Deanery, covering Manchester & Mersey Schools, have prepared 50 Primary & Final Tutorials and 20 ICM topics as powerpoint presentations with voiceovers, that can be used as a starting point for tutorials. As long as the original author is acknowledged, they can be used for any teaching delivery. Click here to view their website.