Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
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Clinical audit is now an integral part of surgical practice. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has stated that all members of the clinical team should participate in the clinical audit. Junior surgical doctors from the West Midlands Region were interviewed, using a questionnaire, to investigate their attitudes towards audit. ⋯ In those hospitals in which all elective work was cancelled, there was a higher attendance rate at audit meetings by junior doctors. Many junior doctors felt that they lacked direction from senior colleagues and had not received any formal training in clinical audit. Clinical audit should become part of undergraduate and postgraduate medical training and junior doctors need to take a more active role in clinical audit.
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A nurse-led Pre-operative Assessment Clinic was introduced into the General Surgical Directorate at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in August 1993 to provide a general medical and anaesthetic pre-operative assessment, to give information, both written and verbal, to patients about their operations and to identify social problems which might delay discharge. Patients were seen either at the time of their original clinic appointment or subsequently on a recall basis, prior to admission to hospital. The clinic was run by two out-patient nurses working to agreed protocols. ⋯ Eighteen per cent of investigations were repeated unnecessarily because the reports were unavailable or considered out of date. However, only 1% of patients pre-operatively assessed had their operations cancelled after their admission, compared with 6% of non pre-operatively assessed patients. Given the total number of patients admitted for surgical procedures per year, the introduction of comprehensive pre-operative assessment for all patients could result in a substantial reduction in cancellations following admission.
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J R Coll Surg Edinb · Oct 1997
Case ReportsAir gun injuries in children: a continuing cause for concern.
Air guns are commonly used for sporting entertainment. The inappropriate use of these weapons often leads to injury. ⋯ We report two cases of serious air gun injury in children and a review of the relevant legislation covering the use of air weapons in the UK. Enhanced public education and awareness as well as coordinated policies by organizations involved in the care of children is desirable to prevent future calamities involving air weapons.