Meetings, Courses and Forums

This area signposts you to other educational opportunities, virtual meetings and forums that can help with obtaining further CPD but may not fall into the mandatory teaching and exam revision categories. 


Learning Through Challenges (General Cases)

Meetings are held on Tuesday on afternoons at 2pm during SPA time, usually for 1.5-2.0 hours.

Overview: TBC.

Case based discussions is a monthly trainee led forum intended on supporting trainees new to anaesthetics. These sessions are designed to provide an informal, safe space to share interesting cases, challenges faced and identify learning points for all to take home. Each session will aim to have one or two short case presentations by a trainee, with structured discussions following them. Difficulties discussed may be clinical, managerial, or ethical in nature. Presentation slides are encouraged but not mandatory.

Intended Presenters: All Anaesthetic Trainees completing their IAC and ideally within their first 6 months of training. 

Intended Facilitators: Established post Primary FRCA trainees with an interest in teaching/peer support. Where possible the combination of an intermediate and advanced (stage 2, stage 3) trainees is preferable. Current faculty include: Mirac Demirbag, Graham Bolton , Zarina Bibi , Syamlan Ali  

 Intended Audience: All Anaesthetic Trainees completing their IAOC and first 3-6 months of obstetric on call.

 Upcoming Dates  

Date Host Trust
9th January 2024 TBC
6th February 2024 TBC

The Zoom Link for the meeting can be accessed here


Learning Through Challenges (Obstetrics)

Meetings are held on Tuesday on afternoons at 2pm during SPA time, usually for 1.5-2.0 hours.

Overview: Learning through challenges is a peer-to-peer network designed to support trainees as they begin Obstetric training. We provide a monthly, informal meeting of trainees to share difficult or 'grey' scenarios they've encountered, with a more senior obstetric trainee to chair the session and facilitate learning and support as beginning independent obstetric practice can be a daunting and challenging time. The aim of these sessions is to reassure, support and inspire confidence in our trainees.

Sessions typically begin with a case presentation from a trainee before handing over to the facilitator who will promote a constructive discussion. Alternatively an IAOC topic can be discussed, with sharing of individuals experience and local practice.

Intended Presenters: Obstetric Anaesthetic trainees completing their IAOC and first 3-6 months of obstetric on call. 

Intended Facilitators: Established independent obstetric on call (ideally 6 months plus)  with an interest in teaching/peer support. Where possible the combination of an intermediate and advanced (stage 2, stage 3) trainees is preferable. 

 Intended Audience: Obstetric Anaesthetic trainees completing their IAOC and first 3-6 months of obstetric on call.

 Upcoming Dates  

Date Host Trust
26th September 2023 TBC
31st October 2023 TBC
28th November 2023 TBC
19th December 2023 TBC

The Zoom Link for the meeting can be accessed here and some examples of topics that can be discussed are included here:


Focused Ultrasound in Intensive Care

Anaesthetics trainees are invited to attend now that ultrasound is increasingly recognised as a valuable skill across disciplines. Please click on the links for application information:

FUSIC Heart 15th November 2023 - Marriot Hotel Hale

FUSIC Lung, Abdomen and DVT Course, 16th November 2023 - Marriot Hotel Hale

North West