SUMMARYA technique based upon Scottish inpatient operation statistics was investigated for the assessment of anaesthetic staffing requirements. Each operation category was given a time factor covering all aspects of anaesthesia to give a total time for anaesthetic work. In a preliminary trial of this system it was found that inpatient operation statistics could only be representative of half the anaesthetic work and data needed supplementation by estimates of the time for obstetric and intensive care work, outpatient anaesthesia, teaching and research. Despite this shortcoming the inpatient statistics provide a useful measure of part of the anaesthetic work load.