Cardiac Surgeon's Assistants
After the first cardiac surgeons assistants examination in June 1997,
further activity on the introduction of a more specific syllabus was
suspended whilst a working party on all surgical assistants, that had
been set up by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, deliberated.
This working party took evidence from specialist associations and
surgical assistants in all the disciplines and also from the Royal
College of Nursing. The majority of surgical assistants have been
recruited from members of the RCN and their imput was considered
important. However, they failed to participate in production of a
document and, faced with an unknown delay, it has been agreed by the
Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons
of England that no further delay in the arrangements for the next
cardiac surgeons assistants examination can be justified.
An examination is planned for November 1998 and details may be obtained
from Miss Elaine Griffiths FRCS,
Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool,
L14 3LB.
Telephone 0151 228 1616.
