ABSTRACT
Paediatric anaesthesia has evolved as a separate subspecialty of anaesthesia over the past 50 years. The Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1973. Although there is a trend towards greater specialization, anaesthetists working in general hospitals must retain the core knowledge and skills to provide immediate care to children. Improvements in training and monitoring have led to a greatly improved level of safety.
