The Western Anaesthesia Society (WAS) is a Regional Educational Network that is associated with the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland and chartered with co-ordinating and running Continuous Medical Education/Continuous Professional Development in the West of Ireland.  The Society also functions as a lobby group to look after the professional interests of its members.

WAS was established in 2011, and the inaugural meeting was in Renvyl House Hotel in November 2011. The Western Anaesthesia Symposium, running now for more than 30 years, is now be the Annual Scientific Meeting of the WAS.

The purpose of WAS is to provide world class CME regionally  for Consultants /Specialists/ NCHDs (non training) in anaesthesia, and it mirrors the activities of similar organizations in Ireland. The co-ordinating center for WAS is Galway University Hospital, the Region’s major tertiary referral center.

Meetings of the society are held three times a year: the Annual Meeting  (Western Anaesthesia Symposium) is held in March/April each year – in various locations in the West of Ireland, the Winter Weekend Away is held in November, again in a different location each year. Also in November is the High Impact Critical Care Meeting – will open registration – held at the Clayton Hotel Galway.
Membership of the Society is open to all Anaesthesia practitioners that are not involved in College of Anaesthetists of Ireland training programmes.

President – Patrick Neligan

Past Presidents – Brian Harte, Noel Flynn, Leo Kevin

Hospitals (public and private) within the West of Ireland are welcome to nominate one committee member