The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Department of Anaesthetics is dedicated to improving patient outcomes in perioperative care through their ongoing participation in clinical research and quality assurance activities.

The department proudly supports staff members who initiate their own innovative research projects and those who commit time and expertise towards larger multi-centre trials. Our primary contributions to clinical research include investigating the mechanisms of anaesthesia, exploring the concept of consciousness, closing the gap between research in males and females undergoing anaesthesia, improving perioperative brain health, and enhancing training for the safe provision of anaesthesia.

In 2020, the Department of Anaesthetics welcomed Professor Robert Sanders, Nuffield Chair of Anaesthetics at the University of Sydney. Since his commencement in the role, Professor Sanders has re-invigorated research within the department, attracted grant funding for ongoing projects and formed a research team in collaboration with the University of Sydney.

The research projects under Professor Sanders are primarily focused on reducing postoperative delirium, a state of sudden confusion that can occur after surgery and is associated with worse outcomes for the patient. Continuing research in this area will become increasingly relevant following the recognition of delirium as an actual and potential Hospital Acquired Complication (HAC) by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in 2021.

The research team consists of Clinical Nurse Consultants Kaitlin Kramer and Belinda Anderson, many consultant and fellow anaesthetic doctors who are PrincipaI or Associate Investigators on local or multi-site projects, junior doctors and nurses who reach out to assist with trials and a hospital scientist.