Surgery in a district general hospital

All operations performed in all surgical specialties in a district general hospital over a 4-week period were monitored. Although most elective operations were performed or supervised by trained staff, the service, particularly emergency care, was heavily dependent on incompletely trained doctors. Consultants, who operated on 41% of elective cases, were more likely to perform major operations. Supervision of junior surgeons for elective surgery was considered satisfactory. Thirty-one per cent of all major cases were performed by doctors in training, usually under supervision. However, 86% of all emergency operations were performed by trainee surgeons without consultant supervision. A consultant anaesthetist or clinical assistant attended all elective operating lists and either supervised or gave the anaesthetic. However, anaesthetists in training were not usually supervised for emergency cases outside normal working hours. It is worrying that one-third of all procedures were undertaken by surgeons who had been on duty for periods in excess of 24 h.