BOA Council Decision April 2024 – Training Issues and Physician Associates

The BOA Council today (24 April 2024) agreed the following statement:

The reduction in elective operating during the pandemic impacted the training of future Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) surgeons. Since the pandemic, the BOA has - and will continue to - advocate for trainees and push for training to be prioritised as part of the recovery and development of planned essential care services.  

The BOA will not accept any compromise to the training of T&O surgeons at any level. There are serious educational and service consequences of not addressing the ongoing challenges faced by trainees.  The NHS relies on the continuous availability of newly trained surgeons, and implementation of training incentives - and removal of disincentives - are essential to deliver this. The unprecedented T&O waiting list clearly demonstrates this and everyone in T&O and the wider NHS needs to play their part.

Simon Hodkinson, President, said,

‘Doctors in training must be given first priority in roles as both lead surgeon, assistant surgeon and as first assistant. Each surgical case should be arranged to maximise training whilst maintaining patient safety and optimising outcomes.

The BOA will not accept any compromise to the training of T&O surgeons at any level.’