Dr Lisa Dewar (APAGBI Trainee Representative and ST7 Anaesthetist) and Dr Matthew Tang (ST4 Anaesthetist) speak with Dr Éireann Allen and Dr Julia Parnell, two UK-trained post-CCT anaesthetists undertaking paediatric anaesthesia fellowships in Canada. Dr Allen has completed a Paediatric Pain Fellowship and is now undertaking a Paediatric Anaesthesia Fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, while Dr Parnell is completing a Paediatric Anaesthesia Fellowship at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver.

In this podcast, they discuss why they chose Canada for their fellowships, the academic and research opportunities available at SickKids and BC Children's Hospital, and what a typical week as a fellow involves. They also explore the transition from the UK to the Canadian healthcare system, levels of supervision and autonomy during fellowship, the role of the Transitional Pain Service at SickKids, and how their fellowship experiences unexpectedly shaped their career aspirations. The episode concludes with practical advice and tips for UK anaesthetists considering an international paediatric anaesthesia fellowship.

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Useful links:

• APAGBI National & International Fellowships: https://www.apagbi.org.uk/trainee-hub/national-and-international-fellowships
• BC Children's Hospital Paediatric Anaesthesia Clinical Research Fellowship: https://apt.med.ubc.ca/pediatric-anesthesia-clinical-research-fellowship-at-bc-childrens-hospital/
• SickKids Toronto – Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine: https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/clinical-departments/anesthesia-pain-medicine/

Get in touch with the APAGBI trainee representative for more information - [email protected]

Dr Amy Norrington talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about the APA Best Practice Guidance on Preoperative Care Services for Children and Young People. 
 
Dr Norrington is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust and the Chair of the APA Paediatric Perioperative Care Subcommittee. In this podcast we talk about why paediatric preoperative assessment is so important and how this guidance can help you to provide optimal outcomes for children and improve your theatre efficiency. Amy also shares some practical top tips for making a preop service work effectively. 

The Guidance document can be accessed here: https://www.apagbi.org.uk/professional-resources/clinical-guidelines   

Dr Sam Black talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about the new patient advice resource: Ready, Steady Recover – 10 things young people can do to prepare for surgery 

Dr Black is a Consultant Paediatric and Perioperative Anaesthetist at Medway NHS Foundation Trust. She is a member of the APA’s Perioperative Care Committee and also the Patient Information Lead at the Royal College of Anaesthetists.  

In this podcast we talk about the importance of changing 'waiting lists' to 'preparation lists' and explore this new patient advice: why it was developed, what it contains, and how it can best be used to help young people prepare for surgery 

The Ready Steady Recover resource can be accessed here: https://rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient-information-resources/information-children-parents-carers/ready-steady-recover    

Dr Simon Courtman talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about the APA Best Practice Guidance on the Preparation and Management of Children and Young People with Individual Needs requiring Surgery or Procedures 
 
Dr Courtman is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and the Immediate Past President of the APA. In this podcast we talk about what we can all do to help care for children with specific individual needs when they present for anaesthesia and how the new APA guidance can help improve care in your hospital. 

The Guidance document can be accessed here: https://www.apagbi.org.uk/professional-resources/clinical-guidelines   

Dr Hugo Wellesley talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about risk discussions in paediatric anaesthesia - in particular about discussing very rare but serious risks including the risk of death. 

Hugo is consultant paediatric anaesthetist at Great Ormond Street Hospital with a special interest in Medical Ethics and Law. 

He holds a Masters in Medical Ethics and Law; is a member of the Great Ormond Street Clinical Ethics Committee and also sits on the Royal College of Paediatrics Ethics and Law Advisory Committee. 

The RCoA Infographic 'Common Events and Risks for children and young people having a general anaesthetic' can be found here: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/patients/patient-information-resources/anaesthesia-risk/children-young-people

Dr Hugo Wellesley talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about consent in paediatric anaesthesia.

Hugo is consultant paediatric anaesthetist at Great Ormond Street Hospital with a special interest in Medical Ethics and Law. 

He holds a Masters in Medical Ethics and Law; is a member of the Great Ormond Street Clinical Ethics Committee and also sits on the Royal College of Paediatrics Ethics and Law Advisory Committee. 

He also wrote the paediatric section of the Royal College of Anaesthetists Consent and Ethics microsite which can be found here: https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/documents/consent-ethics-children-young-people/introduction

Dr Phil Carullo talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about how to get the most out of face and scalp blocks in paediatric anaesthetic practice.

Phil is pediatric anesthesiologist for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and affiliated with the Emory University School of Medicine.  His academic interests include educational program building and his clinical interests include regional anesthesia. Phil spoke at the 2025 APA annual scientific meeting on face and scalp blocks, and in this podcast shares some background knowledge on the blocks and his own top tips for using them in practice.

In the podcast he recommends the BABY BLOCKS site. Also check out the APA - RA-UK plan A paediatric blocks at: https://ra-uk.org/plan-a-paeds 

Dr Mari Roberts, Dr Gethin Pugh and Dr Julia Parnell talk with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth about the APAGBI-RCoA Guidance on How to evidence paediatric key capabilities in the 2021 curriculum.  You can find the guidance here: https://www.apagbi.org.uk/trainee-hub/overview
 

Mari is a Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Cardiff and member of the APAGBI Education and Training Committee – she led on the writing of the guidance. 

Gethin is a Consultant Anaesthetist and intensivist in Wales and is the Immediate Past Chair of the RCoA Curriculum Group. 

Julia is a Consultant Anaesthetist in Swansea Bay Health Board. Having finished her anaesthetic training in 2024, she offers the perspective of both a trainee and a new consultant supervisor. 

To get in touch with the APAGBI Education and Training Committee, email us at: [email protected]  

Dr Rishi Diwan talks with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about his favourite approach to block the brachial plexus in children.

Dr Diwan is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist and the Acute Pain Lead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. He tells us about his favourite paediatric block, why he likes it, and shares some top tips for upper limb regional anaesthesia in children.

Dr Steve Roberts and Dr Anisa Bhettay talk with Dr Laurence Hulatt, Paediatric Anaesthetic Consultant in Plymouth, about their favourite regional anaesthetic blocks in children.

Dr Roberts is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist at Alder Hey Children's Hospital - he talks about how he developed his paediatric regional anaesthesia skills and shares his favourite block.

Dr Bhettay is a Specialist Paediatric Anaesthetist working in Johannesburg - she tells us about her favourite block and shares her top tips for success.