New professional roles in surgery

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7495.803

BMJ 2005;330:803-804 (9 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7495.803

Editorial

New professional roles in surgery

Would be effective in selected surgical settings and can offerbenefits

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

New professional roles in surgery are a controversial issue.Recent publicity surrounding surgical care practitioners hasillustrated the extent of hostility in parts of the surgicalcommunity.^1-3 Yet the landscape of the NHS is changing radically.External forces such as the European Working Time Directiveare having a profound effect on the United Kingdom's healthcareworkforce, and maintaining the current situation is not an option.^4
5

The unavoidable reality is that we do not have enough doctorsto sustain traditional working patterns. Therefore, developingnew professional roles seems a logical response. Moreover, roleredesign fits with the government's commitment to widen careeropportunities in health care and to develop a flexible trainingstructure based on individual competences rather than traditionalpigeonholes such as doctor or nurse.^6
7

Increasing numbers of medically unqualified practitioners arenow being trained in surgery related practice, and this is agood time to examine the pros . . . [Full text of this article]

Roger Kneebone, senior lecturer in surgical education

Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1NY (r.kneebone@imperial.ac.uk)

Ara Darzi, head

Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1NY

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

So why not train juniors better?: Saleem Althaf
bmj.com, 8 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Who trains junior surgeons while nurse practitioners are being trained?: Kristian Sorensen
bmj.com, 8 Apr 2005 [Full text]
training: NJ Sarkies
bmj.com, 9 Apr 2005 [Full text]
The professionals are already here.: Angus JM Watson
bmj.com, 10 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Strict governance needed: Iain Varley
bmj.com, 10 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Where are they leading us?: Visahan Yogendran
bmj.com, 10 Apr 2005 [Full text]
New professional roles- fashionable or essential?: Munier Hossain
bmj.com, 11 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Conflicts of Interest?: G S Bhari
bmj.com, 12 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Doctors or Dentists - which model of professional?: Nigel de kare-silver
bmj.com, 13 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Low morale amongst junior doctors: Douglas J Noble
bmj.com, 14 Apr 2005 [Full text]
New professional roles in surgery: Nick J Taffinder
bmj.com, 14 Apr 2005 [Full text]
New professional roles in Gastroenterology: Peter G Thatcher
bmj.com, 15 Apr 2005 [Full text]
New Professional Roles in Surgery: Learning from experience: Andrew N Kingsnorth
bmj.com, 26 Apr 2005 [Full text]
Re: New Professional Roles in Surgery: Learning from experience: Robert C Pearson
bmj.com, 9 Jul 2005 [Full text]