Since writing the post on the latest edition of the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, I have thought, pondered and cogitated on the subject of publication of surgeon specific mortality data (SSMD) - the theme of the above mentioned edition. (containing 2 articles which all surgeons must read, here and here). And the more I cogitate the more I realize that publication of SSMD is not 'modern' or essential as Professor Bridgewater suggests but flies contrary to the way the NHS and healthcare generally is developing. All healthcare is a team sport, and this includes Surgery . The days of conspicuous individualism, the Sir Lancelot Spratt era are thankfully long gone. Ironically, proponents of publication of SSMD will argue that one of the functions of such publication is to deter 'have a go' surgeons. It certainly is achieving that in spades in cardiac surgery where an increasingly large number of surgeons are 'not having a go' (even though they should be !) A phenomenon, increasingly occurring because of the need to adhere to waiting time targets is for patients to be seen and listed by one surgeon and to be operated on by another. So, which surgeon's SSMD should the patient look up before coming into hospital ?
This relatively recent change is emphasised in the consent form which patients are asked to sign and which contains the statement that 'The NHS Trust cannot guarantee the surgeon who will operate on you'.
In this age of Multi-Disciplinary Team Working where the decision to operate is taken by groups of individuals, publication of surgeon specific outcomes is just SO yesterday.
Patients want to and are entitled to know what the chances of a successful outcome after their surgery are. Publication of SSMDs is just NOT the way to do it.
