In this piece we discuss perioperative medicine with Ramani Moonesinghe, an anaesthetist and intensive care specialist from London, England, and Phuong Markman, an anaesthetist from Cairns, Australia. We explore access to and outcomes from surgery, particularly in relation to remoteness and socioeconomic deprivation. Then we talk about specific interventions to improve the patient experience, such as Sip til Send, and the challenges of implementing the program and demonstrating that it’s safe with respect to aspiration. Finally we discuss whether AI and robotics can assist patients in the perioperative journey.

Presented by Andy Cumpstey and Kate Leslie on location at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine in Cairns, Australia, with their guests, Professor Ramani Moonesinghe, Professor of Perioperative Medicine, University College London, National Director of Patient Safety and National Clinical Director for Critical and Perioperative Care, NHS England, and Dr Phuong Markman, Consultant Anaesthetist, Cairns Hospital, Australia.