The patient's view of anaesthesia in an Australian teaching hospital.

One hundred and thirty-nine patients undergoing routine surgical procedures over a five-day period at Royal Brisbane Hospital were interviewed after operation. 66.2% of patients were aware that an anaesthetist needed a medical qualification. 76% expected their anaesthetic to be without complications. 80% were seen pre-operatively by an anaesthetist. 8% volunteered complaints about some aspect of the anaesthetic. On closer questioning, 80% mentioned specific complaints.