Out-of-hours work in cardiothoracic surgery: implications of the New Deal and Calman for training. Issue 884 (1st June 1999)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelty, Clive; Duffy, John; Cooper, Graham
• Is Part Of: Postgraduate medical journal. Volume 75:Issue 884(1999)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 1999-06-01
• Subjects: training -- cardiothoracic surgery -- emergency surgery -- hours of work; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.75.884.351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5473

Abstract

Abstract : With the introduction of the New Deal and the Calman Report, the duration of higher specialist training will be halved. We have examined the effect of reduced on-call rotas on exposure to relatively uncommon out-of-hours emergencies in cardiothoracic surgery. Operations for post-infarction ventricular septal defect, aortic dissection or transection, oesophageal perforation and pulmonary embolus performed out-of-hours between 1990 and 1995 were identified from hospital records. Over 6 years, the period of higher specialist training in cardiothoracic surgery, a trainee would see seven aortic emergencies on a 1:2 rota, four on a 1:4 rota and two on a 1:6 rota. These figures provide a powerful argument in support of the English Clause which allows trainees to be available for 83 hours a week, equivalent to a 1:4 rota, rather than 56 hours a week, equivalent to a 1:6 rota under the New Deal. This may need supplementation by a mechanism whereby trainees are 'on call for training'.