Is there a need for resident general surgical cover in small peripheral hospitals?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the need for resident general surgical cover in a small peripheral hospital.


METHODS
The total number of admissions to Caerphilly District Miners' Hospital in the year 2001 was noted along with the admission criterion for elective general and vascular surgical patients.


RESULTS
Among the 10,608 in-patients only 120 (1.13%) developed general surgical/vascular problems that merited surgical referral and out of these 30 (0.28%) patients were transferred to neighbouring larger hospitals for specialist care.


CONCLUSIONS
A resident staff grade surgeon is not required in a small peripheral hospital and this service could be provided by the resident on-call surgical SpR in a neighbouring larger hospital.
Zia
M K
MK
Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. Mkzia2@aol.com
Rajakumar
V
V
Delicata
R J
RJ
Shandall
A A
AA
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013502:General Surgery; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales; D000078329:Workforce