CAV Obstetric and Transplant Anaesthetist awarded College Medal from the Royal College of Anaesthetists

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is delighted to announce Dr Sarah Harries, Obstetric and Transplant Anaesthetist has been awarded the College Medal from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA).

The Royal College of Anaesthetists is the professional body responsible for the specialty throughout the UK and ensures the quality of patient care by safeguarding standards in the three specialties of anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.

The College Medal is awarded to those who have made a clear and significant contribution to the RCoA and is usually related to a defined major project. Dr Harries received her medal in person at the College Tutors meeting in London on Friday 14 June 2024 after the award was first announced last year.

Dr Sarah Harries started her long career with the Welsh School of Anaesthesia in 2006 as Deputy Training Programme Director and Recruitment lead and became the Training Programme Director for both Core (2011-2014) and Higher training (2011-2016). During her time as Training Programme Director, Sarah was instrumental in establishing 75 specialty posts and an additional 70 one-year fixed posts in Wales.

Sarah was central in guiding significant changes to training and always supported the trainees first through these times. Her amazing work ethic, commitment and supportive nature saw the Welsh School transition seamlessly from using Record of In-Training Assessments to the Annual Review of Competence Progression.

She went on to take on the role of Royal College of Anaesthetists Regional Advisor (2017-2020), establishing excellent communication with RCoA presidents via the Welsh Board, but also with Welsh government. Sarah recognised early on the need to expand training numbers in the face of clear medical workforce challenges.

Sarah later became Head of the Welsh School of Anaesthesia (2018-2023), with a wealth of experience in education and training, which many trainers and trainees have benefited from.

During the COVID pandemic, where rapid adaptation was required to support both trainers and trainees, Sarah's leadership ensured innovative ways of working were established quickly and were used as a blueprint for many other training programmes across Wales.

Sarah has been instrumental in establishing Anaesthesia as a high-quality training programme recognised in Health Education and Improvement Wales and as a key speciality at Welsh Government level.

Outside of her work with the Welsh School of Anaesthesia, Sarah is a highly valued member of the Cardiff and Vale anaesthetic department and obstetric anaesthetic team where she is the Obstetric Anaesthetic Lead. Her passion in this field extends beyond the clinical as one of the co-editors of the Oxford Specialist Handbook in Obstetric Anaesthesia.

"Sarah is incredible to work with, providing confidence and direction with clarity," said Surgery Clinical Board Director Abraham Theron about Dr Harries. “Her inclusive style draws people in and allows them to provide their best. For so many of us involved within the Welsh School, Sarah embodies Welsh Anaesthesia training."

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sarah on this achievement as a testament to the hard work she has put into bettering anaesthesia in Wales.