Abstract
This year, The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) celebrates its 60th year, a milestone that marks its remarkable journey in advancing the field of perioperative care. Established in 1964 as the National Association of Theatre Nurses, AfPP has been an advocate for the highest standards in perioperative practice with its community of dedicated professionals, most of whom volunteer to provide a platform for perioperative practitioners to connect, collaborate and learn from one another.
As we commemorate this diamond anniversary, it is an appropriate moment to reflect on the Association’s remarkable journey and the impact it has made on perioperative practitioners, past, present and future. AfPP was built on the vision of Daisy Ayris, a theatre nurse who saw the need for a professional organisation to provide education and networking opportunities for perioperative practitioners. The decades that followed saw membership increase from initially, just a couple of hundred, to almost 7000 today.
When I joined back in 1992 as a newly qualified staff nurse, I had no idea how central AfPP would be in shaping my career. The Association has afforded me opportunities that I can honestly say I would not have experienced if I had not joined all those years ago. Back then, there was no internet nor social media, and so members would look forward to receiving the Journal each month to keep themselves up to date and, of course, attending the annual conferences and regional events where friendships were made with like-minded practitioners. I was lucky enough to speak at some annual conferences and co-run some regional events in the West Midlands, and I still keep in touch with friends I made through these events.
Starting life as the British Journal of Theatre Nurses in 1991, the Journal of Perioperative Practice, as the official Journal of AfPP, has enabled perioperative practitioners to access evidence-based information and stay updated with the latest developments in the field. AfPP has also been instrumental in publishing national standards such as the Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice, now in its fifth edition, and most likely held on a book shelf in every operating theatre in the United Kingdom. Awards and bursaries offered by AfPP, provide a well-needed contribution to practice, academia and research for members.
Let us celebrate this diamond anniversary to serve as a reminder of the legacy of Daisy Ayris and those who followed in her footsteps to contribute patient safety and provide excellence in perioperative care. As we enter 2024, watch out for some guest editorials in this Journal, allowing a reflection on the role AfPP had in the past, present and future. Without a doubt, there will be new challenges as well as opportunities. Perioperative practice is constantly evolving, but one thing is certain, AfPP will adapt to any changes and continue to advocate for the highest standards of perioperative care.
Julie Quick