Both the Primary () and Final () FRCA require extensive and specific knowledge of obstetric anaesthesia. AnaesthesiaUK has produced a new educational resource to help candidates prepare for examinations.  This has been tailored to the FRCA knowledge requirements laid down by the Royal College of Anaesthetists. This resource is approved by the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association.


Royal College of Anaesthetists 'Knowledge' Requirements

OBSTETRIC ANAESTHESIA This is a ‘Key Unit of Training’ in which SpR 1/2 trainees should spend the equivalent of at least 1 month of training and, normally, not more than 3 months. Obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia is the only area of anaesthetic practice where two patients are cared for simultaneously. Pregnancy is a physiological rather than a pathological state. Patient expectations are high and the mother expects full involvement in her choices of care. The majority of the workload is the provision of analgesia in labour and anaesthesia fordelivery. Multidisciplinary care for the sick mother is increasingly important and highlighted... Knowledge Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, physiology of labour, basic knowledge of obstetrics, pharmacology of drugs relevant to obstetric anaesthesia, pain and pain relief in labour, emergencies in obstetric anaesthesia...

Royal College of Anaesthetists - THE CCT IN ANAESTHESIA III:
Competency Based Specialist Registrar Years 1 and 2 Training and Assessment

  Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Behaviour - Obstetric Anaesthesia

This resource is endorsed by the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association for its role in education. Their site may be viewed by clicking on the icon.