Has anyone had a request to move Orthopaedic and General Surgical Registrars to a non-resident on call?
Our Surgical Registrars are now on a full shift rota so that they are EWTD compliant. As a result, I understand from some of them that they get to operate only once a fortnight in some cases. As a result, a request has been made to make the Surgical Registrars non-resident on call but within ˝ an hour of the hospital so that this means they will get better experience for their training. This suggestion sits uncomfortably with me because of the possibility of either a trauma call with significant abdo trauma or a case such as a AAA coming in which needs an immediate surgical decision.
Our orthopods, suggested something similar about a year ago for their registrars, and we agreed to it as we felt that the need for an orthopod to take someone to theatre within 1 hour of arrival of a trauma call was low. Therefore they are now non-resident.
Do any of you have non-resident genral Surgical Regsitrars? If so, have there been any near misses or cases where management has been less than ideal?
Sunil
Redhill