Coffee and a Gas

In this Black History Month episode, we sit down with Dr Sethina Watson, Consultant Anaesthetist, and Mr Russell Ampofo, Director of Education, Training and Examinations at the RCoA. We celebrate the contributions of black anaesthetists and explore representation, allyship and advancing equity and inclusion in anaesthesia.

Joe Pick and Claire-Marie Agius are joined by Kim Thomas. Kim is CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, a charity that supports parents experiencing psychological symptoms such as PTSD after traumatic birth. She was also the secretariat for the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) inquiry into birth trauma, and wrote the inquiry report, published in May 2024.

We discuss the idea of birth trauma and how as anaesthetists we may be able to help those going through traumatic situations.

Starting anaesthetics training can feel exciting, daunting, and everything in between. In this episode, we sit down with a resident doctor who has just completed Stage 1 to share what it’s really like — from first on-calls to tackling the Primary FRCA, managing the e-portfolio, and finding your feet in theatre. Packed with practical tips, honest reflections, and advice they wish they’d known on day one, this is your survival guide to navigating Stage 1 and setting yourself up to thrive.

A two part episode with a meeting with former ENT surgeon and current MP, Mr Peter Prinsley, to talk about his career change, followed by a chat with President of the Association, Dr Tim Meek, to discuss how the Association advocates for its members.

In the latest episode of the Coffee and a Gas podcast, veterinary anaesthetist Daisy Norgate joins Joe Pick to discuss her career. We cover career paths and technical aspects of anaesthetising some weird and wonderful cases.

In this episode, we talk to Dr Brunning about the strategies we can use to improve our wellbeing, by trying to make sure we have a good day.

In this episode we are exploring the highs and lows of spending 526 days as a British Antarctic Survey doctor, with Dr Kat Ganly. 

In this episode introduced by Dr Claire-Marie Agius, we talk with Dr Louise Flynn, consultant paediatric anaesthetist in Leeds, about using escape rooms to study team dynamics in theatre.

In this episode, Dr. Matt Wiles, editor-in-chief of Anaesthesia, discusses the 10 most impactful papers (2023-2024) in anaesthesia.  For links to the papers discusses, follow Pick of the Papers 2024 | STH Journal Club (wordpress.com)

In this episode, Dr Nancy Redfern discusses the benefits of mentoring for anaesthetists, particularly when starting a new role or wrestling with a dilemma.

Are you attending the Annual Congress, or any other large Conference organised by the Association of Anaesthests?

Book a free introductory mentoring session.  Interested in having a mentor? Fill in our booking form Mentee_booking_form_Association_of_Anaethetists_Sep_2018 (New.docx (live.com) and as a member of the Association of Anaesthetists, you can access mentoring via our free Association Mentoring Scheme.

Further info regarding mentoring: Mentoring for doctors in the UK: what it can do for you, your colleagues, and your patients (bjaed.org), and "Coaching and Mentoring at work" by Connor & Pokora.