No time to train the surgeons: Golden age of surgical training didn't exist

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1133-c

BMJ 2004;328:1133-1134 (8 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1133-c

Letter

No time to train the surgeons

Golden age of surgical training didn't exist

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Four points strike me on reading the editorialby Chikwe et al and the responses on bmj.com.^1
2

Firstly, there was no golden age of surgical training. We spentmore time as "junior doctors." Some staggeringly bad surgeonswere appointed under the old system, as well as highly experiencedand motivated ones.

Secondly, having observed and trained registrars for 20 years,I have not seen any deterioration in quality. Training in emergencysurgery may even improve with designation of an on-call consultant"surgeon of the week" to take trainees through emergency casesduring the day. Under the new contract at least one list a weekmust be a teaching list for senior house officers. Despite theshift system, enough training lists should be possible to teachall senior house officers in rotation.

Thirdly, we must not be confused by the terms specialist andgeneralist. It has always been quicker . . . [Full text of this article]

David T Reilly, consultant general surgeon

Wirral Hospital NHS Trust, Merseyside CH49 5PE davidreilly@tiscali.co.uk

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