WELCOME
FROM THE EDITOR Clare McNaught on preparing for major incidents, and the problems of recruitment and retention
I
write this editorial just days after the senseless mass shooting in Las Vegas where 59 innocent people lost their lives. Unfortunately, 2017 has been the year of the terror attack, five of which occurred here in the UK. Despite my horror at these events, I have been overwhelmed by the stories of the survivors who risked their own lives to save others and the remarkable response of the emergency services, who worked relentlessly in often hostile conditions to rescue as many people as possible. In this issue, Stuart Clark, Naomi Davis and Ken Dunn describe how lessons from the Paris and other attacks were disseminated through a mass-casualty training exercise just weeks before the bombing at the Manchester Arena. This preparation ensured that victims were distributed to hospitals with the correct facilities and in volumes that enabled calm, high-quality care. The need to coordinate the treatment of children and their parents in the same unit was highlighted as a future priority. In response to these attacks, the College has supported the launch
Lessons from the Paris attacks were disseminated through a training exercise
of the citizenAID app, which empowers the general population to perform lifesaving first aid during mass-casualty incidents after ensuring their own safety. On page 30, Brigadier Tim Hodgetts explains how the app was developed by incorporating the best evidence from military and civilian multiplecasualty events. The profession of surgery is facing a crisis in recruitment and retention in the UK. At the inaugural Younger Fellows’ Forum, the reasons for this were explored and the overwhelming theme was the loss of team structure and spirit. As trainers, it is our responsibility to nurture the next generation, and provide them with an environment that supports them to develop their clinical skills and enables them to take personal responsibility for patient care. The new online ISCP trainer portfolio launched at the Faculty of Surgical Trainers meeting in October will help us to develop our training skills and keep a clear record of all our activities, which can be used towards our GMC revalidation. The festive season is fast approaching and many of us will have a short welcome break from the rigours of professional surgical and dental life. On behalf of everyone at Surgeons’ News, we wish you success and prosperity in 2018. Clare McNaught editor@surgeonsnews.com rcsed.ac.uk | 1