HEALTH BENEFITS OF THORACIC SURGEONS

This audit demonstrates to me the benefit of the decision, around 10 years ago to split thoracic surgery training from that of cardiac surgery. A number of excellent trainees during that time went on to become consultants and significantly increased the resection rate of lung cancers thus undoubtedly improving the survival chances of these patients. It also suggests that thoracic and not cardiothoracic surgeons are best suited to surgically treat this horrible disease. With modernization (3rd or 4th attempt in the modern era!) of UK postgraduate medical training, that decision to have 2 separate streams of training (for cardiac and thoracic) was reversed . This audit confirms the folly of that decision.