Portfolio & evidence
Useful things to do before you apply
These are development ideas, not a claim about points in a particular recruitment cycle. Check the current official person specification and scoring guidance before relying on any activity for an application.
Observe a full operating list including pre-assessment, induction, maintenance, emergence and recovery.
Use the RCoA QI Compendium to identify a project tied to an explicit standard.
Build examples around anticipation, human factors, escalation and safe preparation.
Reflect on the difference between managing routine risk well and responding to a crisis.
Royal College / Faculty watchlist
Current topics worth understanding
These are concise summaries of current professional-body material, not predicted interview questions. Use them to understand the specialty and then read the primary source.
UK anaesthetic workforce shortfall
The RCoA 2026 State of the Nation report estimates a UK-wide shortfall of around 2,250 anaesthetists, 16% below need, with consequences for planned surgery, training and retention.
Why it matters for a candidate: Connect workforce numbers to patient delay, safe staffing, trainer capacity and retention rather than offering recruitment as a one-line solution.
Read the primary sourceFRCA examination reform
RCoA announced GMC approval of the revised FRCA examinations in September 2026. The new formats launch from July 2027, with transition arrangements for candidates holding valid partial passes.
Why it matters for a candidate: Discuss clear transition support, equitable preparation and monitoring while recognising that standards and patient safety remain central.
Read the primary sourceRaising the Standards QI Compendium
The RCoA's former Audit Recipe Book is now a quality-improvement compendium. From 2026, chapters move to rolling annual review alongside the corresponding GPAS guidance.
Why it matters for a candidate: This is a practical source for credible QI ideas and a useful way to understand how anaesthetic departments define and measure quality.
Read the primary sourceService standards and patient safety
The RCoA maintains current guidance across service provision and safety, connecting individual vigilance with the systems around safe perioperative care.
Why it matters for a candidate: Connect technical skill with preparation, team behaviours, human factors and reliable systems.
Read the primary sourceUseful stuff
Official tools you can actually use
Anaesthetics CT1 application and career hub
The comprehensive 2027 guide to eligibility, MSRA, interview, Core versus ACCS, training, FRCA, on-call, subspecialties and current issues.
Read on The Interview Bank The Interview BankAnaesthetics evidence and example builder
Map real experiences to the person specification and interview domains without inventing a portfolio score.
Read on The Interview Bank The Interview BankClinical Judgement station guide
Practise evolving acute scenarios, explicit reassessment, safe escalation and meaningful reflection for the official 2027 station.
Read on The Interview Bank The Interview BankGeneral Interview station guide
Prepare communication, commitment and teamwork evidence with original questions and NHS-context advice.
Read on The Interview Bank RCoARCoA QI Compendium
A ready source of audit and improvement ideas across preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and subspecialty care.
Open resource RCoARCoA guidance and resources
Current College standards, guidance and patient-safety resources.
Open resourceInterview reflection
Turn exploration into a real “Why Anaesthetics?” answer
Which combination of physiology, procedures, anticipation and responsibility attracts you most?
Start with something you genuinely experienced. Explain what it taught you about the work, what appealed to you, what challenge you noticed and what you did next.