``I mean they were all very nice, but it's good to know more about it. I didn't realise how much training they had.''
She would need to undergo the procedure again, but would do so with a newfound confidence skilled staff were keeping a close eye on her.
That is because she was one of the patients to stop by interactive displays in the hospital's foyer for National Anaesthesia Day yesterday.
Anaesthetists were available to explain to passers-by the purpose of the various machines and contraptions they used.
Anaesthetist Julie Thompson said the idea was to open dialogue about the procedure.
``We want to remove some of the mysticism around it. To reassure patients that they will be tracked in a safe way.''
The anaesthetists were always by the patients' sides while they were under, she said.
``Part of it is a lot of people don't know very much about what we do.''
The theme `ageing and anaesthesia' was chosen as people required the procedure more as they aged.
The message was that anaesthetists aimed to help patients get as fit as possible prior to surgery, discuss the most suitable form of anaesthesia and guide them safely through surgery.
