Anaesthetists provide anaesthetic care for surgical operations, before the operation ( preoperative), during the operation ( intraoperative), and after the operation ( postoperative). They also provide anaesthetic care for patients undergoing non-surgical procedures, such a special heart examinations or X-ray treatment, particularly if these procedures are long, complex, or painful. Sometimes this care consists of providing sedation, either for a procedure such as an examination of the bowel ( endoscopy) or in addition to regional or local anaesthesia. (This is often called monitored anaesthesia care.)

Anaesthetists also provide relief of acute pain for women during labour and delivery, and to many patients after operations, as well as treatment of chronic pain for patients with long-term pain problems.

Many anaesthetists are involved in intensive care or in the provision of retrieval services and resuscitation. Retrieval services involve going to a small hospital by air or road ambulance, to fetch accident victims or patients who need specialised care in a major hospital.

Other anaesthetists spend part of their time doing research in diverse fields – studying how the body works, developing new drugs and equipment, and working out how to teach teams of medical workers to minimise human error and patient harm. Many anaesthetists also teach a wide range of health care workers, including medical and nursing students, interns, residents, specialists in training, and other specialists (surgeons, obstetricians, physicians, etc). Anaesthetists are also often asked to give talks of a general nature to interested groups, such as the Scouts, community organisations, and school classes. (If you would like to have an anaesthetist speak to your group, contact your local hospital Department of Anaesthesia or the College or Society.)

No matter which type of anaesthetic care they provide, the responsibilities of anaesthetists are similar. These responsibilities include evaluating the patient before the operation or procedure; forming a plan for the care of the patient during and after the anaesthetic; monitoring and supporting the patient during the procedure; and supervising care after the procedure