Anaesthetists who play such a vital role in operations performed at Slough's Wexham Park Hospital have been honoured for the quality of their work.

Their department has achieved the prestigious Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) for demonstrating high standards in patient safety and clinical leadership.

Dr Amer Qureshi is chief of service for theatres, anaesthesia and critical care at Frimley Health NHS Trust which runs Frimley Park Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot as well as Wexham Park.

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Teams working at all three hospitals have been awarded simultaneously.

He said: "The ACSA inspection itself is extraordinarily thorough – they check everything and more. All those organisations that have passed this test should be very proud as we are of what has been accomplished.”

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Professor Ravi Mahajan, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said it had been fascinating to see innovative practices carried out by the trust had enabled the hospitals at Frimley and Slough to work together despite the geographical distance, while managing to meet patient's needs.

He said many of their practices had been highlighted for sharing with anaesthetists across the country.