{
  "abstract": "Aims and Objectives Emergency airway management is fundamental to Emergency Medicine (EM) practice. The 2021 RCEM Curriculum specifies a minimum of 10 intubations per year for Higher Specialty Trainees (HSTs) to maintain currency. This study assessed current national trainee exposure to intubation, the proportion achieving this target, and explored regional variation, training perceptions, confidence, and barriers to EM-led airway management.Method and Design A multicentre, cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online questionnaire circulated to EM HSTs in August 2025, capturing practice from the preceding 12 months.Results and Conclusion Of 244 eligible responses, 108 (44.3%) were female and 191 (78.3%) were single CCT EM trainees. Only 82 (33.6%) were aware of the curriculum standard. Respondents reported 853 intubations, primarily in resus (385, 45.1%). After adjusting for full-time equivalence, just 27 (11.1%) achieved >10 intubations per year. Scotland (West) trainees achieved the highest number of intubations (median 6.0, IQR 3.0). There was no difference in intubation numbers between major trauma centres, tertiary hospitals and district general hospitals.Confidence was generally high—220 (90.2%) were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very confident’ in direct laryngoscopy and 212 (86.9%) in video laryngoscopy ( figure 1). However, only 64 (26.0%) respondents felt supported by their department to intubate in resus and just 37 (15.0%) felt local training prepared them sufficiently. Only 4 (1.6%) respondents reported no barriers to EM-performed intubations in the Emergency Department and 55 (22.5%) had no Direct Observation of Procedural Skills form for advanced airway management.This national survey highlights a significant gap between curriculum expectations and clinical practice. While many trainees express confidence in airway skills, most have inadequate access to structured training, clinical opportunities, and multidisciplinary support to maintain competence. Closing this gap through systematic training and supported practice is crucial for patient safety and curriculum fulfilment.Abstract 4028 Figure 1Airway skills confidence amongst higher speciality trainees*DSI: Delayed sequence induction, RSI: Rapid sequence induction",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Lewisham"
      ],
      "name": "Angus Perks"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Leicester"
      ],
      "name": "Hannah Wilkincrowe"
    }
  ],
  "title": "4028 Skipping the A in ABC: airway training gaps in UK emergency medicine",
  "uid": "4107879e-4ab4-5aba-a1f6-606e6d4c0f5f"
}