WORK LOADS OF A SAMPLE OF GENERAL SURGEONS IN N.S.W

The work loads of 34 general surgeons in New South Wales during a six week period in 1977 have been determined. Data was obtained on the number of elective, emergency and supervised procedures, and of elective and emergency first consultations. The operative work loads were assessed by a simple grading system, and also by the “hernia-equivalent” method which relates the work involved in a given operation to that for an adult unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy. The latter is arbitrarily given a score of one. The hernia-equivalent scores for academics, country and city surgeons were similar. The mean hernia-equivalent rating for the 2,321 operations assessed was 1.1; thus, the “typical” operation was equivalent to a herniorrhaphy. The mean number of operations per week was 11.4, or 12.6 hernia- equivalents. Assuming a 48-week working year, these figures represent an annual work load of 547 operations, or 605 hernia-equivalents. Comparison of these results with those obtained in the U.S.A. (the “SOSSUS” report) indicates that these work loads are almost three times those found for board-certified general surgeons in the U.S.A.     

SURGEONS,PHYSICIANS, AND CARDIOLOGY

Recognizing that the Renaissance period in Western Europe was the intellectual ferment which triggered an explosive development of knowledge affecting all of the physical sciences, it was judged to be instructive to start from this point and then to advert to some of those persons and institutions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries who and which in the area of cardiology have contributed to a commonality of knowledge among both physicians and surgeons. These particular activities are used as epitomes to illustrate the thesis that, during that period, the previous unnatural breach in the corpus medicum between physicians and surgeons was in the process of being healed, a process which is still active and reaching its full flowering in our own day. It is concluded that medical knowledge and practice constitute a corporate whole and that historical developments in the special branch of cardiology during two recent centuries were a presage of that which is still being worked out in this twentieth century.     

PROSPECTS FOR TRAINING OF AUSTRALIAN SURGEONS IN BRITAIN

Britain has remained the country most favoured by Australian and New Zealand surgeons for overseas training. Post-fellowship training in Britain is advantageous in both service and research posts. Increase in personal operative experience, and the development of a special interest within general surgery are facilitated. Exchanges of surgical trainees between Australasian and British programmes can also be mutually advantageous, particularly during advanced training. College regulations and accreditation of surgical programmes in each country should remain sufficiently flexible to facilitate such exchanges.