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Domain C: communication, partnership and teamwork
Attribute 7: communicate effectively
Explanatory notes
Effective provision of care in anaesthesia, pain medicine and intensive care requires anaesthetists
to utilise a number of communication skills. Listening, questioning and providing instructions to
colleagues are just some of the skills that are necessary within a functioning multidisciplinary setting.
Non-verbal forms of communication are just as important as verbal ones.
Patients are very much seen as partners and contributors in the provision of their own healthcare.
Whether they can effectively contribute to this partnership is dependent on information provided by
their doctor in ways that can be easily understood. Again, this is very much dependent on a doctor’s
communication skills. Mistakes, as in any other area of life, can occur in medical practice. When a
mistake has been made, whether a complaint has followed or not, an informed and appropriate
explanation must be given to the patient or a close family member.
Related guidelines and sources of information
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
››
Catastrophes in anaesthetic practice: dealing with the aftermath, 2005.
Prepared by the Joint Committee on Good Practice | Page 21