NHS Golden Jubilee Consultant elected President of national anaesthetic association
Image: Mark Steven
NHS Golden Jubilee Consultant Anaesthetist Mark Steven has been elected President of the Association for Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care (ACTACC).
The accolade highlights Mark’s commitment to patient care and professional development since joining NHS Golden Jubilee in 2002 from the Western Infirmary Cardiothoracic Unit.
He was also recognised for his contributions to ACTACC and its Infrastructure Committee over the past 5 years in various roles, including Thoracic Representative, Meetings and Education Representative, Secretary and President Elect until his election as President.
Mark said: “I got involved in the committee, essentially for the promotion and recognition of my specialist interest, which is thoracic anaesthesia, as this was underrepresented on a national level.
“As cardiothoracic surgery was a shared specialty, surgically, it's separating into 2 very definitive specialities - cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery - with less overlap it is important that thoracic anaesthesia has its own identity and representation.”
ACTACC represents cardiothoracic anaesthetists from throughout the UK and Ireland, aiming to ensure the highest standards are maintained within the patient care delivered. The Association supports its members by providing research, national and quality improvement projects and delivering the resources for teaching and training for the next generation of anaesthetists.
One of the committee’s core aims is to deliver a meeting structure on a national basis, allowing core members to come together and obtain necessary continued professional development through lectures, seminars, workshops and webinars.
Another important aim for Mark is the launch of a series of free webinars to promote ACTACC and improve engagement with patients.
Mark added: “My job at the Golden Jubilee helps me in the committee as practicing on a day-to-day basis, you can see areas that need developed within your own hospital and practice, and by communicating within the committee and forums and in collaboration with different societies, you can see that many of the problems are common in other hospitals and other boards.
“With the development of a new website, we hope to provide members or the public with increasing levels of information on cardiac and thoracic anaesthesia and cardiac intensive care, raise the hospital profile and by helping to maintain the standards, have a positive impact on the quality of anaesthesia that's delivered on a local, regional and national level.”
Mark said the best part of his role is being part of teams that deliver the best level of patient care, helping them through a very difficult and trying time.
He said: “A lot of the thoracic surgery that we do is cancer and cardiac, which is obviously a very stressful environment involving high risk surgery. Patients can be very emotionally stressed and being able to get them safely through their operations is very rewarding.”
Building on an international reputation of excellence, NHS Golden Jubilee provides specialist anaesthesia services for elective and emergency procedures for patients across Scotland.
Services include interventional cardiology, adult cardiac surgery (including transplantation and mechanical circulatory support), adult congenital cardiac surgery, thoracic, robotic, orthopaedic and general surgery (including major cancer surgery).
Clinical Director of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Consultant Kenneth McKinlay, said: “Marks appointment to the presidency of ACTACC is well deserved and a testament to his unwavering dedication, passion and hard work within the field of cardiothoracic anaesthesia.
“He has been a committee member of ACTACC for several years and has been instrumental in the development of ACTACC in general, and more specifically its educational programme. His appointment as president is a first for Glasgow and reflects well on both our department and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.
“Mark is a valued part of a specialist team here at NHS Golden Jubilee which supports the safe, effective and person-centred journey of our patients and his new role will bring benefits to the anaesthetics speciality for both colleagues and patients.”
For more information on ACTACC, visit www.actacc.org.
