Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland facts for kids
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| Founded | 1932 |
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| Founder | Dr Henry W. Featherstone, Sir Ivan Magill |
| Focus | Anaesthesia |
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President
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Dr Tim Meek |
| Website | http://www.anaesthetists.org |
The Association of Anaesthetists, also known as the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI), is a group for doctors who specialize in anaesthesia. These doctors work in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
This association was started in 1932 by Dr Henry Featherstone. Back then, many general doctors gave anaesthetics as a side job. Anaesthetists were not always respected or paid well by other medical specialists. The AAGBI worked hard to change this. Before the NHS began in 1948, the AAGBI helped make sure anaesthetists were recognized as important medical consultants. They also helped create special colleges for anaesthesia, like the Royal College of Anaesthetists in England and the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland.
In 1945, the AAGBI was given its own special symbol by King George VI. Their motto is "in somno securitas", which means "safe in sleep". The main office for the AAGBI is in the middle of London.
Contents
What Anaesthetists Do
Anaesthetists are doctors who give you medicine to make you sleep or numb during surgery. This means you won't feel any pain. They also look after you during and after the operation. They make sure you are safe and comfortable.
Learning and Events
The Association of Anaesthetists holds many events to help doctors learn more. These events are for anaesthetists at all stages of their careers.
Big Meetings
The Association has two main big meetings each year.
Winter Scientific Meeting (WSM)
The WSM is the Association's biggest event. It happens every year in London. Around 800 doctors from many countries attend. They learn about the newest topics in anaesthesia. There is also an exhibition where about 40 companies show new medical equipment. This meeting helps doctors get special credits for their ongoing training.
Annual Congress
The Annual Congress is another very important event. It takes place in different cities across the UK and Ireland. About 800 to 1000 doctors attend this meeting. Like the WSM, it has a trade exhibition with over 40 companies. It also helps doctors earn training credits.
Other Events
The Association also hosts smaller events.
Trainee Conference
This is a special meeting for doctors who are still training to become anaesthetists. About 400 trainees attend each year. It helps them learn and share new ideas.
Educational Seminars
The Association also holds smaller workshops. These are designed to teach doctors about new things in anaesthesia, critical care, and pain medicine.
Anaesthesia Heritage Centre
The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre is a special place. It has a museum, old records, and a collection of rare books about anaesthesia. Everyone can visit it.
The museum has over 4,500 items. Some of these items date back to 1774. The Association's own records go back to 1932. The centre also has a library for research. It is part of The London Museums of Health & Medicine.
Helping with Research
The Association supports research to make anaesthesia even better.
Awards for Students
The Wylie Medal is an award for medical students. Students write an essay about a topic related to anaesthesia. The best three essays win prizes of money. The top winner also gets the Wylie Medal. This award remembers Dr W Derek Wylie, who was a President of the Association.
Awards for Doctors
The Association also gives awards to certain doctors called SAS doctors. These awards encourage them to do research and improve their work.
Encouraging New Ideas
The Association has a project to promote new ideas in anaesthesia and intensive care. They help people turn their ideas into real products. They also help test new equipment and share new inventions. This includes workshops and special sessions at their big meetings.
Different Types of Anaesthetists
The Association represents different groups of anaesthetists.
Trainee Doctors
Trainees are doctors who are learning to become anaesthetists. They make up about one-third of all the Association's members. The Trainee Committee represents their interests. Members of this committee even sit on the Association's main board.
SAS Doctors
SAS stands for Specialists, Associate Specialists, and Specialty doctors. These are very important members of any hospital department. They contribute a lot to anaesthesia. The Association offers special grants and prizes just for SAS doctors.
Senior Doctors (Consultants)
The Association has about 10,000 members. Most of these members are consultants. Consultants are senior, experienced anaesthetists.
Special Awards
The Association gives out several awards to honor important people and achievements in anaesthesia.
- John Snow Silver Medal (started in 1946): This award honors John Snow, a famous physician.
- The Pask Certificate of Honour (1977): This award was created after a serious underground train accident.
- Sir Ivan Magill Gold Medal (1988): This award remembers Ivan Magill, a pioneer in anaesthesia.
- The Evelyn Baker medal (1998): This is for excellent clinical skills.
- The Featherstone Certificate (2001): This award remembers Dr Henry Featherstone, who founded the Association.
- The Anniversary Medal (2007): This was given for the Association's 75th anniversary.
Images for kids
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A blue plaque in London marking a place important to the Association of Anaesthetists.
