No time to train the surgeons: Choosing trainees carefully may be the solution

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1134-b

BMJ 2004;328:1134 (8 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7448.1134-b

Letter

No time to train the surgeons

Choosing trainees carefully may be the solution

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

EDITOR—Chikwe et al mainly blame the Calman reforms andthe European Working Time Directive for the crisis in surgicaltraining.¹ Maybe a share of the blame lies with the medicalestablishment, especially the royal colleges and postgraduatedeans, who have an influential role in selecting trainees.

Some trainees have two right hands and are a pleasure to teach;some have two left hands and teaching is torture. Most traineesare in between. Even with reduced hours, it is possible to train;the trick is to identify the right trainee.

One way of ensuring that the outcome of current training programmesis not "dumbed down" consultants is to select experienced trainees.A considerable wealth of talent and skills exists among doctorsknown as "time expired" senior house officers (who have notobtained a numbered post three years after obtaining the MRCS)and non-consultant career grade surgeons.

Young doctors who . . . [Full text of this article]

Vipin Zamvar, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SU zamvarv@hotmail.com