Consultation outcome: AT safe sedation. Further consultation: endorsement and education programme

10 Aug, 2026

The Council has been working to set standards that ensure practitioners, employers, and the public are aware of the expectations of anaesthetic technicians who are working with healthcare users requiring sedation in the absence of an anaesthetist.

 2025 consultation feedback

During October-December 2025, the Council consulted on a proposed standard for anaesthetic technicians providing sedation in the absence of an anaesthetist. The standard would replace the previous sedation guidance and reflect the updated scope of practice and competence standards of April 2025.

Feedback to the consultation supported the development of a standard but concerns were raised about mechanisms for ensuring practitioners had the appropriate level of education and competence to perform the role.

The Council has reviewed the feedback provided and proposes that a formal education programme be developed to give assurance that anaesthetic technicians performing sedation are able to do so safely. It is proposed that the education programme is recognised as an endorsement on the scope of practice of those who have completed the requirements. The original consultation details are available on the website under the News item: Consultation – ATs safe sedation standard (16 Oct 2025).

 Further consultation

The Council is consulting further, asking for feedback on this proposal from members of the profession, practitioners working in sedation, and other interested groups. We recommend reading the supporting documents linked below before doing the feedback survey.

You can read supporting documents (including current consultation questions) using the links below.

Survey

The consultation period will run from Thursday 6 August to 5pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026. A survey to provide feedback on the proposed standard is available here. All feedback will be carefully reviewed by the Council before the standard is finalised.