Integrated approaches to academic anaesthesia - the Cambridge experience

There is mounting concern about the pressures experienced by University Departments of Anaesthesia, which, if lost, could threaten undergraduate peri-operative medicine teaching, development of critical appraisal skills among anaesthetists, and the future of coherent research programs. We have addressed these problems by establishing a foundation course in scientific methods and research techniques (the Cambridge SMART Course), complemented by competitive, fully funded, 12-month academic trainee attachments. Research conducted during academic attachments has been published and used to underpin substantive grant applications allowing work towards higher degrees. Following the attachment, a flexible scheme ensures safe reintroduction to clinical training. Research at consultant level is facilitated by encouraging applications for Clinician Scientist Fellowships, and by ensuring that the University Department champions, legitimises and validates the allocation of research time within the new consultant contract. We believe that these are important steps in safeguarding research and teaching in anaesthesia, critical care and peri-operative medicine.