Dr. Anthony Singh

MBBS (Melb), MBA (Melb), FANZCA
Specialist Anaesthetist

Dr. Anthony Singh is a highly qualified, skilled and experienced anaesthetist who practices out of Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Anthony Singh’s passion for medicine carried him through his studies at the University of Melbourne, where he completed his medical training and obtained his MBBS and MBA.

Dr. Anthony Singh has a friendly and personal approach towards his patients. The philosophy of his practice is that every patient is equal and deserves to be met with the highest level of respect, care and effort. He believes in the importance of listening to patients and truly understanding their needs. Dr. Anthony Singh is not just a doctor, but a teacher. As a consultant anaesthetist, he has vast knowledge of human’s physiology and pharmacology and is eager to share this with others

Dr Anthony Singh headshot
Play Video

Accreditations & Certifications

Austin Health grey logo
Epworth logo
St Vincents health Australia
Ramsay Health Care grey logo
Nexus logo
Health E Care grey logo
health scope logo

What is an Anaesthetist?

Anaesthetists are medical specialists who are responsible for providing anaesthesia and pain management to patients before, during and after surgical operations and other painful procedures.

These medical professionals have extensive knowledge of physiology and pharmacology, with a sharp understanding of how the body works and how different types of medication affect it.

Anaesthetists have the qualifications and specialist training to match. Anaesthetists in Australia are required to attend medical school, spend at least two years working in the hospital system before completing a further five years of speciality training in anaesthesia.

With their expertise, anaesthetists play a key role in healthcare provision in hospitals around the world. Usually found in the operating theatre or intensive care unit, they ensure long, complex or painful procedures go smoothly and that patients return to full health as quickly as possible.

Dr Anthony Singh headshot

Qualifications

Dr. Anthony Singh can be found at The Austin, a public teaching hospital in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburb of Heidelberg, where he is currently practising as a consultant anaesthetist. Dr. Anthony Singh became a Specialist with the Medical Board of Australia, in addition to the following associations:

  • The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA),
  • The Australian Medical Association (AMA),
  • The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA).

Education 

  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) 1997 – 2002, University of Melbourne
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2008 – 2012, Melbourne Business School
  • Student of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). 2013, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists,
dr anthony singh signature

What Does an Anaesthetist Do?

Anaesthetists, especially senior anaesthetists, have a range of key responsibilities that go well beyond the provision of anaesthesia to patients. These include:

  • Pre-operative care
  • Post-operative care
  • Pain relief during labour
  • Emergency pain relief
  • Resuscitation and stabilisation of patients
  • Sedation procedures

With every patient, anaesthetists must first consult with them to build an understanding of their individual needs and consequently create a tailored treatment plan.

On the day of the operation, anaesthetists take responsibility for the administration of medication so that the patient doesn’t experience pain.

As the surgeon carries out the work, the anesthetist monitors key bodily functions, including breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, to ensure the patient is in a stable condition and receiving the appropriate balance of medication.

After the procedure, the anaesthetist continues to be responsible for the patient’s care. This involves reversing the effects of the anaesthesia and assisting recovery efforts.

The Different Types of Anaesthesia

There are three main types of anaesthesia. The type of anaesthesia a patient receives during treatment depends on the procedure and the patient’s individual needs. In some cases, they could receive more than one type.

Local Anaesthetic

A local anaesthetic numbs a small, localised part of the body before, during and after minor operations. It usually comes in the form of drops, sprays or injections. Patients remain conscious under a local anaesthetic, but don’t experience pain. Common examples of operations involving a local anaesthetic include dental work and stitches.

Regional Anaesthetic

A regional anaesthetic renders a large part of the body numb and unable to feel pain. A local anaesthetic is applied to a targeted cluster of nerves to block sensation in that part of the body. Regional anaesthesia is used for more complex operations that require extensive numbing. When the regional anaesthetic is applied, patients remain awake and alert but feel no pain. The two most common types of regional anesthesia are spinal and epidural anesthesia. These injections are often used during operations on the lower body, such as caesarian sections, bladder operations and hip replacements.

General Anaesthetic

General anaesthesia is reserved for major operations and invasive surgeries. Anaesthetic drugs are injected into a vein, or anaesthetic gases are provided to the patient to breathe, inducing a state of controlled unconsciousness in which no pain is felt and no memories are preserved. This kind of treatment is used in most operations on the heart, lungs, brain and other major organs, as well as many surgical procedures for treating cancer. It’s common for patients to experience drowsiness immediately after the operation. Anaesthetists closely monitor patients following treatment to ensure a smooth and steady recovery.

Outside of the operating theatre, anaesthetists assume a range of other important responsibilities. They often occupy key management roles as a clinical or medical director, and lead the clinical management of intensive care units alongside other specialist physicians.

They may also provide care for patients with chronic illnesses, administer anaesthesia in psychiatric units as part of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and supply sedation treatment for patients undergoing interventional radiology.

Most anaesthetists provide emergency medical care alongside specialist emergency physicians. This involves diagnoses, emergency pain control, breathing and circulation support, cardiac resuscitation and other important forms of pre-operative care.

Some independent anaesthetists choose to specialise in particular areas of pain medicine and critical care. These include:

  • Cardiac anaesthesia, for operations on the heart
  • Obstetric anaesthesia, to provide pain relief during childbirth
  • Paediatric anaesthesia, which deals with pain management for infants and children
  • Dental anaesthesia, for operations on the teeth, gums and jaw

Anaesthetists are expected to regularly update their skills in line with the latest developments in medicine.

The Other Roles of an Anaesthetist

How to Become an Anaesthetist in Australia

Each country has its own pathway to becoming a fully qualified anaesthetist. In Australia, the entire process can take longer than a decade. Here’s an overview of the necessary steps to becoming a fully qualified and licensed Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA):

1.

Complete a Bachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine double degree at an accredited university, or apply to undertake a Doctor of Medicine as a graduate in another discipline. This course takes four to six years to complete.

2.

Complete a one-year internship in a hospital. During this year, a number of rotations are completed in different departments.

3.

Complete a residency in a hospital for a minimum of one year. This involves more hospital rotations and generally lasts between one to two years.

4.

Complete a five-year Fellowship of Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZA). Upon completion of the fellowship, you’ll be awarded your qualification and will be able to practice as an independent anaesthetist.

The rigorous nature of the process ensures that Australian anaesthetists such as Dr. Anthony Singh rank among the best in the world.

FAQs

Most frequent questions and answers

Medicare will pay for any anaesthesia that’s part of surgery or treatment carried out in a public hospital. This covers local, regional and general anaesthesia as well as costs associated with anaesthetic supplies and the anaesthetist’s fee. Provided that you’re treated in a public hospital, Medicare will cover 100% of the costs of anaesthesia treatment.

If you’re treated as a private patient, Medicare will only pay 75% of the public rate for the treatment, the anaesthesia and all diagnostic work. You and your private health insurer are responsible for paying the rest, including any accommodation fees, theatre costs and doctor’s fees.

In most cases, anaesthesia is covered by private health insurance. Given that anaesthesia is a fairly common medical treatment, it’s included in the vast majority of insurance funds.

However, for a small minority, your health fund and Medicare may fail to cover the total cost, leaving a gap fee for you to pay. This is the case for roughly one quarter of anaesthesia treatments in Australia, with the average gap fee priced at around 40% of the entire anaesthesia fee.

The pathway to becoming a fully qualified anaesthetist varies from country to country. Australia has one of the more rigorous processes, which takes a minimum of 12 years from start to finish.

The first step is to attend medical school and complete a Bachelor of Medical Studies and Doctor of Medicine double degree, which takes five to six years to complete. Alternatively, you can apply to undertake a Doctor of Medicine as a graduate in another discipline.

The next step is to complete a one-year internship in a hospital. This is followed by a separate residency in a hospital that lasts a minimum of one year. The final step is to Complete a five-year Fellowship of Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZA).

The word ‘anaesthetist’ is commonly mispronounced, sometimes even by those within the profession. This is because it’s a long word that also contains a tricking sequence of consonants in the middle.

Phonetically speaking, ‘anaesthetist’ can be pronounced as follows: ‘uh-NEES-thuh-tist’. Speakers should note the emphasis on the second syllable. Expressed using the International Phonetic Alphabet, anaesthetic would be read as follows: ‘ənɪ́jsθətɪsd’.

Our Blog