Educating the next generation, is every case a case for training?

Abstract

Summary: Current elective waiting lists are in crisis due to a combination of reduced access to surgery during the start of the pandemic and further COVID waves adding to the pressure on beds necessary for elective inpatient activity [1]. Patients on waiting lists for hip and knee surgery have reported a very poor quality of life with many describing their current state as ‘worse than death’ [2]. Current data from NHS England estimates 4.46 million awaiting treatment in the UK across all surgical specialties in November 2020 with approximately 2.3 million people currently waiting for surgical care [3]. Similar backlogs are present globally with elective activity reduced as COVID impacts on beds and staff with each successive wave.