It was striking that, when asked specifically about the methods and investigations used as aids to the diagnosis of breathlessness, none of the junior trainees mentioned spirometry spontaneously, whilst specialist registrars and GPs perceived spirometry as a fundamental element of their diagnostic work-up.
As ICM training expands in the UK, junior trainee confidence & experience cannot be taken for granted.
I joined the BBC Comedy Department as a junior trainee producer in 1976.
Thus, even when an inexperienced operator, such as a junior trainee actually performed the intubation, a more senior operator was present to provide assistance or take over if needed.
The trainee describes an incident where, as a junior trainee, her broad-based training experience made her more 'expert' than those with more specialised training.
Indeed, a component-based approach to recording operative exposure may be more useful than crudely measuring numbers of procedures, particularly at junior trainee level and has been developed within the logbook for neurosurgical procedures.
8 The standard suggested timetable included two dedicated theatre sessions/week, with only one junior trainee present.
In one in four cases there was a "clinically important delay" before the patient was seen by a consultant, access to CT and MRI scanning is a "substantial problem" at many hospitals and in one in five hospitals "do not attempt resuscitation" orders were signed by "very junior trainee doctors".
Admission rates according to grade of referral: consultant 54.6%, senior trainee 42.1%, junior trainee 34.4%.
Referral rates according to grade (excluding emergency codes): consultant 14%, senior trainee 49%, junior trainee 37%.
