Mechanisms to improve teamworking in neurosurgery

Team-working has been seen as an important essential in the delivery of modern medical care and quality. It should increase the range of skills and knowledge in dealing with clinical problems and needs to make better use of scarce professional resources. In addition many see the team as reducing the risk of the harmful consequences of idiosyncratic practice. Team-working requires a named consultant to be responsible for individual patients with corporate responsibility for the practice. Doctors and managers will need to work together. The structure of teams will by necessity change but the requirements are constant. These are to provide a basis for continuing professional development, the monitoring of standards of performance and capacity, and above all, to improve patient care and outcome. An essential prerequisite is the provision of resources to provide a supportive environment if clinical excellence is to be the norm.