The dedicated emergency surgeon: towards consultant-based acute surgical admissions

The management of an efficient acute surgical service with conflicting pressures of managing elective and emergency work, compounded by waiting list targets and the maximum 4-h wait for patients in accident and emergency poses a significant challenge. We assess the impact of appointing a dedicated emergency surgeon on the delivery of our emergency surgery service.

A comparative retrospective review was undertaken of all surgical admissions (n = 1622) over a 9-month period (between February and November) in the year before and after (2004 and 2005) the appointment of a dedicated emergency surgeon. The impact on service, training and possible financial consequences of this appointment was assessed.

A total of 798 surgical admissions in 2004 were compared with 824 admissions in 2005 for the 9-month periods of this study. In 2004, 258 patients were operated on compared with 286 in 2005 (NS). There was a significant increase in day-time operating from 57% in 2004 to 74% in 2005 (P < 0.001) and a significant increase in consultant-supervised operations from 14% to 52% (P < 0.001), with a consequent fall in out-of-hours operating (43% to 26%; P < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant increase in early (within 48 h) discharges from 41% to 53% (P < 0.001). The salary of the new appointment is more than offset by the quantifiable savings of approximately pound90,000 per annum based on the increased proportion of earlier discharges alone as well as the improved quality of care provided.

The appointment of a dedicated emergency surgery consultant has resulted in an increase in day-time consultant-supervised operating, shorter hospital stay for emergency admissions, improved training for surgical trainees, as well as providing potential financial savings for the trust.