Anaesthetist

In this role you could:

• explain the risks and side effects of anaesthesia
•  give anaesthetics and monitor patients during surgery
•  help reduce pain after an operation or during childbirth
•  manage chronic pain services
•  help patients receiving specialist treatments

• the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• the ability to work well with your hands
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

With experience you could:

• become a consultant anaesthetist
•  lead or manage an anaesthesia department
•  teach medical students, trainee doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics
•  become a senior consultant if you have a lot of experience and you're on the General Medical Council specialist register

As a specialist or consultant, you'll usually earn a much higher salary.