Professor Cliff Shelton
Professor in Anaesthesia and Perioperative MedicineProfile
I am a professor in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine at Lancaster Medical School and a consultant anaesthetist at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester.
In my university role I am the director of simulation and clinical skills for the MBChB (medicine and surgery) course, co-director of the PGDip AaPOS (anaesthesia associate) course, and a researcher with interests in quality and safety, sustainable healthcare and education. I am the strategic lead for sustainability at the NIHR RSS Hub Delivered by Lancaster University and Partners.
I supervise NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows based in the North West School of Anaesthesia and PhD Fellows undertaking projects in perioperative care and medical education.
My clinical interests include anaesthesia for hip fracture surgery, obstetrics, and emergency care.
I am the co-chairperson of the Association of Anaesthetists Safety, Standards, Environment and Sustainability Committee, deputy chairperson of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists Sustainability Committee, and co-chairperson of the Royal College of Anaesthetists Centre for Research and Improvement Patient Carer and Public Involvement and Engagement group.
I am an editor of Anaesthesia, a leading journal in anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, critical care and pain medicine.
Research Overview
My research interests include patient safety, healthcare quality and environmentally sustainable healthcare. I am particularly interested in projects related to anaesthesia and perioperative medicine. My methodological expertise includes ethnography, qualitative techniques, consensus methods and patient and public involvement approaches.
Periprosthetic femoral fractures: data, management and outcomes
01/12/2022 → 30/11/2026
Research
Mapping underdoctored areas: the impact of medical training pathways on NHS workforce distribution
01/10/2022 → 30/03/2025
Research
Mapping and Identifying Quality and Inequality in Prehabilitation for Cancer Surgery: Evidence for Improvement
01/06/2022 → 30/09/2025
Research
COVID-KIDS - Surgery in children and young people during the UK COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentre service evaluation
01/01/2022 → 28/02/2022
Research
Politics and practices of frailty
01/01/2020 → 31/10/2021
Research
What is a 'good anaesthetic? Producing evidence in complex settings: the case of fractured neck of femur.
01/10/2015 → 30/09/2018
Research
Ultrasound Guidance in CVC Insertion by Anaesthetists
01/08/2012 → 04/08/2015
Research
NIHR PhD Studentship - Can prehabilitation be repurposed across the NHS for more effective care of reconstructive plastic surgery patients? (£66,336)
01/01/1900 → …
Research
Anaesthesia Research 2025
Participation in conference - Academic
Application 101 - NIHR's decarbonisation funding programme
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Update from Lancaster University
Invited talk
Involving patients and multidisciplinary stakeholders in research and innovation
Invited talk
Optimisation of the peri-operatve pathway for the fractured neck of femur patent
Invited talk
What’s new in the literature? Highlights from Anaesthesia
Invited talk
Poster presentation - 'RSS Hub Sustainability Team hosted by Lancaster University and Partners' - NIHR infrastructure supporting decarbonisation
Participation in conference - Academic
Poster Presentation - 'Scoping review of greener research practices: a people and communities partnership perspective'
Participation in conference - Academic
TIVA models – review & comparison
Invited talk
New Frontiers in Sustainable Peri-Operative Care
Invited talk
Clinical Academic Careers
Invited talk
Association of Anaesthetists Annual Congress
Participation in conference - Academic
Sustainability in operating theatres - question and answer
Invited talk
Making Research Greener
Invited talk
Nitrous Oxide in Maternity - Equity, Technology, Practice and Sustainability
Invited talk
NIHR RSS National Sustainability Seminar
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Global Congress
Participation in conference - Academic
Global burden on healthcare and where changes need to happen
Invited talk
Sustainable Healthcare Research – where are the gaps, and how can we help close them?
Invited talk
International Clinical Skills Conference
Participation in conference - Academic
The past, present and future of semi–immersive technologies in simulation and clinical skills: how to develop resources and implement education.
Oral presentation
Getting Published
Invited talk
Anaesthesia and the Environment: An Update
Influence on Policy, Practice, Patients & the Public
Hip Fracture: Which Block Works Best?
Invited talk
Research Updates - the NOBLE Trial
Invited talk
Sustainability in Research Design - NIHR RSS Hub delivered by Lancaster University & Partners
Invited talk
The Society for Education in Anaesthesia UK (SEA-UK) Annual Scientific Meeting
Participation in conference - Academic
World Federation of Aocieties of Anaesthesiologists (External organisation)
Membership of committee
General Medical Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Royal College of Anaesthetists (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Myth-Busting
Invited talk
Association of Anaesthetists Annual Congress
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
The Consensus Principles [of environmentally sustainable anaesthesia]
Invited talk
World Congress of Anaesthesiologists 2021
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
BSA Medical Sociology Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SBRI Healthcare (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Nitrous Oxide
Invited talk
Anaesthesia Reports (Journal)
Editorial activity
Self Isolating Virtual Education (SAVEd) / North West School of Anaesthesia Regional Journal Club
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Simulation and COVID: what have we learned, and what comes next?
Invited talk
Anaesthesia 2021
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Chronic Living Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Embedding sustainability in learning and practice in healthcare
Invited talk
Anaesthesia Reports (Journal)
Editorial activity
British Journal of Anaesthesia (Journal)
Publication peer-review
External Examiner, Manchester University MSc in Paediatric Anaesthesia
Examination
Training in hip fracture anaesthesia
Invited talk
Emergency Medicine Journal (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Anaesthesia (Journal)
Publication peer-review
North West School of Anaesthesia Specialty Training Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
The Patient, Carer and Public Involvement and Engagement group of the National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia Health Services Research Centre (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Association of Anaesthetists Environment and Sustainability Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Anaesthesia Reports (Journal)
Editorial activity
BJA Education (Journal)
Editorial activity
Original research poster presentation - first prize
Prize (including medals and awards)
2025 Dean’s Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Interdisciplinary network in culture, health, ethics and society