Please can anyone recommend a company for purchasing surgical loupes?
I have finally decided to get a pair, but wanted some recommendations
before forking out huge amounts of money. What magnification / focal
length do people have? Do people recommend flip up ones or in lens
ones? Which are the lightest?
Any tips (including negative recommendations) gratefully received.
Thanks,
Clare.

Hi,

If anyone is interested there is opportunity for a locum registrar post
in paediatric surgery at Sheffield Children's Hospital from May 21st
till June 22nd.

For more details contact myself or Jenny Walker directly
(jenny.walker@...).

Cheers

Richard England
Sheffield SpR

Dear all,

This is a final reminder about the trainee session at BAPS this year.

It is free to attend if you are registered for the main conference
and includes a free meal on the Tuesday night.

It provides an opportunity for people to present who would otherwise
not be able to do so.  The focus of the trainee session is directed
towards clinical research and techniques, as there is a percieved
bias in the main conference to more basic research, especially in the
proze session.

Therefore, if you have had an abstract rejected from the main
conference it is still worth submitting to the trainee session. This
session also provides an opportunity for SHOs and STs to gain
experience presenting at a conference and enhance CVs.

More details are on the Yahoo group or the trainee website; the flyer
can be found here:

http://www.trainee.baps.org.uk/page1/assets/BAPS.pdf

Thank you

Richard and Jonathan

I will upload the report from our recent survey of UK trainees in Paediatric Surgery which
details the number of trainees due to finish in each of the next few years, and provides some
information about major interests. I hope it is of interest.

Jonathan Sutcliffe

I will upload the report from our recent survey of UK trainees in Paediatric
Surgery which
details the number of trainees due to finish in each of the next few years, and
provides some
information about major interests. I hope it is of interest.

Jonathan Sutcliffe

The flyer is now available in the /FILES section.  We will also be
posting it on the new website.

Remember that the session + meal are included in the price if you are
an associate member of BAPS, so hopefully see you there.

--- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com, "sutcliffejonathan"
<jonathan.sutcliffe@...> wrote:
>
>
> BAPS are keen to increase trainee involvement at the annual
congress and more generally.
> They suggested a specific Trainee Session on the Tuesday afternoon
(17/7) to give trainees a
> further opportunity to present work. Richard Lindley and I have
been involved with the
> development of this session and hope the session will be one in
which clinically important
> work is discussed. BAPS have offered to provide a prize and will
also fund a Trainees' Dinner
> on the Thursday night for BAPS associate members going to the
congress.
>
> I will write shortly with further information.
>

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the paediatricsurgerytrainees
group.

   File        : /BAPS Trainees' Session.ppt
   Uploaded by : trainee_representative <rmlindley@...>
   Description : BAPS TRAINEES SESSION EDINBUGH FLYER

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paediatricsurgerytrainees/files/BAPS%20Trainees%27\
%20Session.ppt

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

trainee_representative <rmlindley@...>

--- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com, KANT <kantshah@...>
wrote:
Thank you Kant.

Jonathan and I feel that whoever stands for trainee rep must be AT
LEAST ST3/SpR1 to be acceptable to BAPS and the various training
committees.  More experience may be desirable but I was only SPR2
when I started.

In terms of voting however, we feel that all UK trainees in paedatric
surgery should be eligible to vote, which would allow you to have a
say.  SHOs and research fellows registered with the group will be
able to vote.

Please keep up your involvement with the group

Richard

> HI Richard,
>
> Many thanks for inviting a vote for the training rep job.
>
> We must all acknowledge the work you have done.
>
> You have maintained excellent communication at all times and also
initiated
> interesting debates and discussions.
>
> As a junior trainee, i have really taken up to be a part of this
trainee
> group.
>
> However, until i get a 'number' i suppose i can't be of much help
to the
> group.
>
> Would we still be allowed to vote?? (i suppose not, anyways)
>
> Wish you luck in your future endeavours...
>
> Regards
>
> Kant Shah
> SHO Birmingham Children's Hospital
>
>
> On 02 Apr 2007 04:47:44 -0700, Richard Lindley <rmlindley@...>
> wrote:
> >
> >   I have been a trainee rep for >2 years and need to step down.
> >
> > Jonathan is doing an excellent job - but two people are necessary
to
> > handle the workload, and so a new, "incoming" rep is once again
> > needed.
> >
> > I propose to formally step down at the BAPS trainee meeting (Tues
> > 17th July), so before then we will need nominations and a vote.
> > Depending on numbers, I think it would be good to have the actual
> > vote in Edinburgh with electronic postal voting for those unable
to
> > make the event.
> >
> > If people would like to nominate themselves (or others) then
please
> > email myself (richard.lindley@... <richard.lindley%40liv.ac.uk> )
or
> > Jonathan and in May we
> > can announce the candidates. If you would like to discuss the job
> > and requirements first, then please also get in touch.
> >
> > By way of encouragement, I must say that I have thouroghly
enjoyed my
> > time as trainee rep and would recommend it to anyone willing to
take
> > it on.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Kant Shah
> Senior House Officer
> Emergency Department
> Birmingham Children's Hospital.
>

I have been a trainee rep for >2 years and need to step down.

Jonathan is doing an excellent job - but two people are necessary to
handle the workload, and so a new, "incoming" rep is once again
needed.

I propose to formally step down at the BAPS trainee meeting (Tues
17th July), so before then we will need nominations and a vote.
Depending on numbers, I think it would be good to have the actual
vote in Edinburgh with electronic postal voting for those unable to
make the event.

If people would like to nominate themselves (or others) then please
email myself (richard.lindley@... ) or Jonathan and in May we
can announce the candidates.  If you would like to discuss the job
and requirements first, then please also get in touch.

By way of encouragement, I must say that I have thouroghly enjoyed my
time as trainee rep and would recommend it to anyone willing to take
it on.

Good luck!

BAPS are keen to increase trainee involvement at the annual congress and more
generally.
They suggested a specific Trainee Session on the Tuesday afternoon (17/7) to
give trainees a
further opportunity to present work. Richard Lindley and I have been involved
with the
development of this session and hope the session will be one in which clinically
important
work is discussed. BAPS have offered to provide a prize and will also fund a
Trainees' Dinner
on the Thursday night for BAPS associate members going to the congress.

I will write shortly with further information.

Yes, I will post a programme very soon.

Regards

Yatin
--- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com, "Daniela Vieten"
<danielav@...> wrote:
>
> HI Yatin
>
> Is this training day definitely going ahead as we are
> trying to sort out on call rotas our end to see who can
> go?
>
> Daniela
>
>
> This message has been scanned for viruses by BlackSpider
MailControl - www.blackspider.com
>

HI Yatin

Is this training day definitely going ahead as we are
trying to sort out on call rotas our end to see who can
go?

Daniela


This message has been scanned for viruses by BlackSpider MailControl -
www.blackspider.com

Sounds a good idea Jonny. Is this only recent papers or the type that all
have heard of from a while back?
Hope all` s well
Nia
----- Original Message -----
From: "sutcliffejonathan" <jonathan.sutcliffe@...>
To: <paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 11:48 AM
Subject: [paediatricsurgerytrainees] Influential Papers


A few years ago, Mark Powis and Sean Marven tried to collate a list of
papers thought by
Paediatric Surgical Consultants to be the most influential. This might be
interesting and
would be suitable for the website. Would anyone be interested in doing this?
It might be
something that someone a year or so from the exit exam would be interested
in

Jonathan Sutcliffe




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.15/728 - Release Date: 20/03/2007
08:07

A few years ago, Mark Powis and Sean Marven tried to collate a list of papers
thought by
Paediatric Surgical Consultants to be the most influential. This might be
interesting and
would be suitable for the website. Would anyone be interested in doing this? It
might be
something that someone a year or so from the exit exam would be interested in

Jonathan Sutcliffe

Miss Cusick is the Chair of the BAPS Education and Training committee and is
co-ordinating
the development of a specialty-specific logbook. She has passed on an update
about this
which I will post separately.

Jonathan

To all who have been involved in setting and
developing TRIPS website

it is really wonderful and afterall puts us at par
with other surgical specialities
well done !


Anupam Lall




__________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/

The BMJ this week has highlighted the role of Elsevier, publishers of
the JPS, in promoting the international arms trade.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/334/7593/547

This is not a new story, but the first I heard about it and connected
it to JPS was a few weeks ago, thanks to Ben Goldacre's Bad Science
column:

http://www.badscience.net/?p=360

I have been wondering what to do since (in a way divorced from being
trainee rep).

Do people out there think it wrong that a journal dedicated to
improving the health of children should be published by an
organisation that encourages the sale of, amongst other things,
cluster bombs?

(http://www.caat.org.uk/armsfairs/dsei.php)

If so, what should we do?

I see the options as being

(1) a letter to the editor of JPS, hopefully signed by many trainees
and consultants, deploring Reed Elsevier for their support of the
arms trade
(2) and/or raising the issue at the BAPS annual meeting in Edinburgh,
as they have a specific journal report on the agenda, if I remember
rightly

I would be grateful for comments and let me know if you are
interested in taking part in any form of protest.

I would also add again that such a move would be from myself as an
individual, not on behalf of trainees (unless people would want that!)

Best wishes

Richard

AT LAST! this is a fantastic venture and about time. our own site!
excellent. i will do by best to contribute regularly. as an older head
who did quite a bit of training abroad, but still able to pass exams
here, i have quite a bit of advice and cautions to give. great day to
all.
Bazil Brown

Dear All,

I am writing to let you know that a website has been uploaded for trainees in
Paediatric
Surgery(http://www.trainee.baps.org.uk/). It has beeen developed primarily by
Abraham
Cherian, with some input from Richard Lindley and myself, and is designed to
support this
web forum. BAPS have provided additional help; although the site is independent,
they have
kindly agreed to provide the webspace for which we are very grateful.

The site provides a list of courses and URLs, relevant news and links. We hope
to develop the
educational aspects of the site. Any comments or information thought of interest
to trainees
would be gratefully received. In particular, if you were aware of courses not
mentioned, or
links to useful clinical resources, we would like to hear,

Many thanks,

Jonathan Sutcliffe

Im copying an email from PMETB about the OOPE approval process. Also
Im trying to get hold of Nicky Smith and Peter Ferguson to ask them
about their OOPE's - anyone have a current email address?

thanks

Dear Bip,

The application must comprise documentation which addresses the
following points:

1.      A formal covering letter from the Deanery to PMETB seeking
prospective approval of the OOPE post and confirming that this post
has Deanery support. We cannot accept applications from individual
trainees or Colleges/SACs/Faculties

2.      Confirmation that the OOPE post has the explicit written
support of the relevant royal medical college representative(s).
Local college representatives must act in accordance with the
national policy of their college and should seek advice where
necessary from their college to ensure consistent standards across
the UK

3.      A statement from the competent authority in the country where
the OOPE will take place which details the purpose and structure of
the post to the satisfaction of the Deanery and the College.

4.      If the documentation outlined in point 3 above is not
provided, then a brief description of the OOPE post which covers the
following points: a) where the OOPE is based, b) the structure of the
OOPE, c) the educational goals and characteristics of the OOPE, and
d) confirmation that the post is subject to quality management in
line with PMETB requirements.

Applications must come from the Deanery.  This is to maintain
consistency with PMETB policy of holding the Deaneries responsible
for local level quality management of education and training.
Trainees are therefore advised to liaise with their Deaneries to co-
ordinate the applications for approval.

PMETB guidance on this has been issued and is available on our
website at the following link: http://www.pmetb.org.uk/index.php?
id=postandprogrammeapproval

Kind regards,

PMETB





--- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com, Jonathan Sutcliffe
<jonathan.sutcliffe@...> wrote:
>
> Also, forgot to say, maintaining an honourary contract with your
> current trust means much less hassle with pension incl. buying
back
> years if needed
>
>
>
> On 10 Mar 2007, at 11:50, Biplab Nandi wrote:
>
> >
> > I'd like to apply for an overseas oope - Ive emailed PMETB but
does
> > anyone know if there is a form?
> >
> > Re funding -. If you write to payroll/NHS pensions they may be
able
> > to count the year as service to NHS if you're off on voluntary
> > work. this may count towards increment points and pension.  I
agree
> > that deaneries are unlikely to contribute. Try a cake stall at
the
> > wrvs?
> >
> > Bip
> >
> >
> > From: "Yatin Patel" <yatinp2835@...>
> > Reply-To: paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com
> > To: paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [paediatricsurgerytrainees] Re: Important Info re OOPE
> > Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 10:41:48 -0000
> >
> >
> > Thanks again Jonathan for your phone call and all the efforts
you
> > have put in to solve this issue.
> >
> > I am posting this to update those trainees affected by this
change.
> > I received a letter from JCHST today which stated:-
> >
> > PMETB have now confirmed that for any overseas OOPE any
propective
> > approval of overseas posts given by the SAC prior to 1 January
2007
> > will indeed be valid and prospective approval from PMETB is NOT
> > required for the post to be recognised for your CCT.
> >
> > Hopefully PMETB will be more engaged with trainees in the
future,
> > preventing such changes affecting our training to go through
> > without our prior knowledge.
> >
> > Regards to all
> >
> > Yatin
> >
> >
> > --- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com, "Basem Khalil"
> > <KBA_BAS@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am a Trainee in the Manchester - Liverpool Rotation. I am
going
> > to start
> > > applying for PMETB to get prospective approval for my OOPE.
The
> > place I want
> > > does not pay salaries. I would like to ask those that have had
> > OOPE - did
> > > your Deanery pay you anything? Did they supplement you abroad?
> > Did they pay
> > > your National Insurance contributions? I would be grateful if
> > anyone could
> > > answer my questions with regards the regulations.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Basem.
> > > Dr Basem A Khalil MBBS MRCS(Edinburgh)
> > > Specialist Registrar in Paediatric Surgery
> > > Manchester Children's Hospital
> > > Manchester, UK
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "Yatin Patel" yatinp2835@
> > > >Reply-To: paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com
> > > >To: paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com
> > > >Subject: [paediatricsurgerytrainees] Re: Important Info re OOPE
> > > >Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:30:11 -0000
> > > >
> > > >Thanks Jonathan
> > > >
> > > >I had already been warned by Miss Cusick hence did not book my
> > > >flights for Sydney last Wednesday.
> > > >
> > > >I am due to start my OOPE in Sydney on 23/7/07 and did get
approval
> > > >from the Dean and JCHST. I have received a letter from JCHST
today
> > > >confirming that PMETB must prospectively approve the post.
> > > >
> > > >I sent an e-mail to the deanery last week but have yet to hear
as
> > > >they are all busy with MTAS!!!!!!!!!
> > > >
> > > >If it takes 3 months to approve once they receive the
documents,
> > how
> > > >are we to organise moving across the world in days and what
are
> > we to
> > > >tell the centre that is expecting us?
> > > >
> > > >Any news from your request to have those in my situation be
treatde
> > > >like those already on their OOPE?
> > > >
> > > >Regards
> > > >
> > > >Yatin
> > > >
> > > >--- In paediatricsurgerytrainees@yahoogroups.com,
> > "sutcliffejonathan"
> > > >jonathan.sutcliffe@ wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Overseas posts/non-accredited posts
> > > > >
> > > > > The SAC were told this week that as of 1 January 2007 all
posts
> > > >leading to CCT must be
> > > > > approved prospectively by PMETB. Without this prospective
> > approval,
> > > >the trainee will no
> > > > > longer be eligible for a CCT if they wish this time to be
> > counted.
> > > >Instead the trainee will
> > > > > need to apply to be given Certificate of Eligibility to the
> > > >Specialist Register (CESR). CESR is
> > > > > intended to allow the holder to apply for consultant jobs
and is
> > > >the route taken by people
> > > > > going through Article 14.
> > > > >
> > > > > A possible alternative (although I have not been able to
> > confirm if
> > > >accurate) is if the trainee
> > > > > wishes to maintain eligibility for CCT, to apply to the
Dean for
> > > >time out of training and not
> > > > > recognise the OOPE.
> > > > >
> > > > > The application process is likely to take 3/12 from
> > submission of
> > > >forms.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have contacted The Head of Approval and Visits at PMETB
and
> > > >obtained clarification for
> > > > > the following groups. These are her comments
> > > > >
> > > > > 1. Trainees with SAC approved posts already on OOPE:
> > > > > If approval for the OOPE post was granted prior to 1
January
> > 2007,
> > > >and evidence of this
> > > > > approval from the Deanery and SAC can be provided, then
approval
> > > >will be honoured.
> > > > >
> > > > > 2. Trainees with SAC approval about to go (say in the next
few
> > > >months):
> > > > > These trainees need prospective PMETB approval. These
> > applications
> > > >for approval will
> > > > > need to come directly from deaneries; PMETB is unable to
accept
> > > >applications from
> > > > > individual trainees, SACs or Colleges. This is consistent
with
> > > >PMETB policy of holding the
> > > > > deaneries responsible for local level quality management of
> > > >education and training.
> > > > > Trainees are therefore advised to liaise with their
deaneries
> > to co-
> > > >ordinate the applications
> > > > > for approval. PMETB guidance on prospective approval of
overseas
> > > >posts can be found
> > > > > here:
> > > > >
http://www.pmetb.org.uk/fileadmin/user/Policy/Policy_Statements/
> > > > > Prospective_approval_of_overseas_posts_-
_Guidance_2_Oct_06.pdf
> > > > > and PMETB guidance on general post and programme approval,
> > > >including research posts,
> > > > > can be found under the `latest news' section in the
following
> > part
> > > >of the PMETB website:
> > > > > http://www.pmetb.org.uk/index.php?
id=postandprogrammeapproval
> > > > >
> > > > > 3. Trainees who have begun planning but not yet obtained
> > approval:
> > > > > Need to apply as above
> > > > >
> > > > > 4. Point of contact for further questions to PMETB:
> > > > > quality.assurance@
> > > > >
> > > > > I have written to PMETB to say that none of us were aware
of
> > this
> > > >change is concerning and
> > > > > indeed it is possible that there are other significant
policy
> > > >changes which we don't know
> > > > > about. Better communication would also allow us to discuss
out
> > > >professional concerns
> > > > > regarding training in the way we have done and continue to
do
> > with
> > > >the SAC.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
_________________________________________________________________
> > > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today
> > it's FREE!
> > > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Match.com - Click Here To Find Singles In Your Area Today!
> >
> >
>

I have uploaded the whole file if people want to read.  The summary
is given below:

• Online electronic survey covering ~2/3 of existing UK SpRs.
• No major gender-based differences to responses.
• A significant minority may consider a subconsultant post, but
of these many would only want this option for a limited portion of
their career, at either the beginning (as a stepping stone to a
consultant post) or end (before retirement).
• Trainees believe that elective and emergency paediatric
surgery should be delivered to the DGH population by trained
paediatric surgeons.
• Role model that is most favoured is of subspecialist or
generalist paediatric surgeons based in tertiary centre performing
surgery in the DGH.
• A majority of trainees would consider working in a DGH for
part of their career, but do not want this option for the whole of
their career, and this is reflected in their desired working
pattern.
• There is a small minority of trainees (10%) who would be
prepared to work full time in a DGH, but these numbers seem unlikely
to be sufficient to fill the vacancies that retiring adult general
surgeons will create.


Thank you to everyone who took part.  This was discussed at the BAPS
exec committee yesterday and will be passed on to the workforce
planning group.

The message I tried to put across is that there is a small number of
trainees wanting to work full time in DGHs but these numbers wil not
fill the gap created by retiring general adult surgeons who used to
perform paed surgery in the DGHs.  There is a large proportion of
current trainees prepared to work in DGHs while being based in a
tertiary center, and these future surgeons could provide training and
support for adult surgeons working in the DGHs.  Please let me know
if you have any further comments or thoughts.

Richard

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the paediatricsurgerytrainees
group.

   File        : /survey into working patterns.doc
   Uploaded by : trainee_representative <rmlindley@...>
   Description : Report on trainee future working pattern survey

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paediatricsurgerytrainees/files/survey%20into%20wo\
rking%20patterns.doc

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

trainee_representative <rmlindley@...>