Grannies have anaesthesia, children have anaesthesia - patients are extremely safe in our hands

Professor Peter Hutton

This public ignorance has led to the launch of National Anaesthesia Day which aims to raise patient awareness.

The campaign aims to encourage patients to ask questions about their care and to be more aware of their rights to information about different types of anaesthesia.

Professor Peter Hutton, president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said: "We keep patients alive and well during surgery - over four million times a year.

Patient power

"Grannies have anaesthesia, children have anaesthesia - patients are extremely safe in our hands.

"Anaesthesia is not just about keeping patients asleep and pain free, but also controlling vital organ function.

"Only 50% of our time is spent in the operating theatre.

"We run intensive care units, provide pain relief in labour and delivery, and are actively involved in 90% of the work of an acute hospital."

Anaesthesia facts

More than 160,000 women a year in the UK are helped by anaesthesia during labour Anaesthetists do not just put people to sleep and wake them up - they support the vital organs of the body New anaesthetic drugs and procedures have resulted in the growth of day surgery About 70% of patients who attend a pain clinic - run by anaesthetists - return to work New machines are being developed to ensure patients do not wake up during operations In some parts of the country anaesthetists are being trained in simulators, similar to airline pilots

The day, held on Friday, was also being supported by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

The association's president Leo Strunin said patients should become more vocal in demanding better pain relief after operations if this was not forthcoming.

"We could solve pain in a week if every patient said to the surgeon and the anaesthetist and nurses before their operation 'What are you going to do about my pain afterwards?'

"It would be solved by patient power.

"We have the technology, we have the drugs, but people are too uncomplaining.

"They expect to have pain and therefore don't complain but if they said they were not willing to have pain, what was going to be done about it, something would be done."

Claire Rayner, president of the Patients' Association, also welcomed the initiative.

She said: "The fact that modern surgery is safer and less painful than it has ever been is almost entirely down to the skill and professionalism of the anaesthetists.

"The more patients know about this, the more relaxed they will be about going into hospital for surgery and the quicker they will recover."