Prof docs monthly update: May 2026
Your monthly digest of professional document developments.
Overview
In total, there are 51 ANZCA and eight FPM professional documents. Of these, 5 ANZCA and 6 FPM documents are currently either in development, under review, out for stakeholder consultation, being piloted or under post pilot review.
Under development/review*
This section has existing versions hyperlinked. PM = Pain Medicine
- (PM) Scope of clinical practice for specialist pain medicine physicians (under development)
- (PM) Statement on provision of pain medicine care to children and adolescents (under development)
- (PM) Statement on multidisciplinary pain services (under development)
- (PM) Statement on spinal cord stimulators (under development)
- PG21 Guideline on safe practices for central venous line insertion, maintenance and removal (under development)
- PS60 Statement on the role of non-medical health care professionals in anaesthesia, pain and perioperative medicine-related roles (under development)
- PG03 Guideline for the management of major regional analgesia and PG03BP (under review)
- PS10(PM) Statement on "Medicinal Cannabis" with particular reference to its use in the management of patients with chronic non-cancer pain and PS10(PM) BP (under review)
- PS12(PM) Position statement on the use of ketamine in the management of chronic non-cancer pain and PS12(PM) BP (under review)
- PG27 Guideline for major extracorporeal perfusion and PG27BP (under review)
- PG31 Guideline on checking anaesthesia delivery systems and PG31BP (under review)
*Please refer to CP24 Professional document process for further details on the internal review (IR) process.
Stakeholder consultation*
- PS64 Position statement on environmental sustainability in anaesthesia and pain medicine practice 2019 and PS64BP (under review)
*Revised documents will be published on the ANZCA website when approved for PILOT.
Pilot
Pilot versions are ‘live’ on the ANZCA website and are considered ‘operational’ with the caveat that there may be changes to the final version following feedback.
No professional documents currently in pilot.
We encourage feedback on all professional documents during the pilot phase. If you have any comments or queries regarding professional documents please email us.
Post pilot review
Documents under post pilot review have completed the pilot period and are either undergoing feedback review or in the process of approval for the final version.
No professional documents under post pilot review.
Final version
Minor non-policy changes to represent the Chapter of Perioperative Medicine (ChPOM) were made to:
- PS40 Position statement on the relationship between fellows, trainees, graduates and the healthcare industry and PS40BP
- PG43 Guideline on fatigue risk management in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine practice and PG43BP
- PS45 Position statement on patients' rights to pain management and associated responsibilities
- PG49 Guideline on the health of medical practitioners in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative medicine and PG49BP
- PS62 Position statement on cultural competence and cultural safety
If you have any comments or queries regarding professional documents please email us.
Expressions of interest
We are seeking expressions of interest from fellows to participate in the review of
We are seeking interest from fellows with particular interest, experience or expertise in this area.
The review of ANZCA prof docs is undertaken by a document development group (DDG) made up of fellows with expertise and knowledge aligned to the particular document. DDG members may include non-anaesthetists to provide external perspectives where applicable and collaborate to develop and review professional documents via email and zoom meetings at times that fit their schedules.
Serving as a DDG member provides a valuable opportunity to contribute to safety and quality of care for patients.
If you are interested in being nominated for the aforementioned prof doc DDG, please email us for further information.
