Is there a need for resident general surgical cover in small peripheral hospitals?

摘要

AIM: To assess the need for resident general surgical cover in a small peripheral hospital. PATIENTS AND 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.