To reject trainee surgeon?

I think you should make another appt if you can to discuss this.

I 100% understand your concerns when it's a risky op and blindness is a potential outcome.

At the same time, all surgeons need to practise on patients and under supervision. I'd also assume that the consultant would step in if the jnr dr was not doing what was right.

There may be parts of the procedure that are less risky and the 'trainee' may do those and leave the harder parts to the consultant. These are questions to ask.

However, you have a right to discuss this and air your concerns.
Don't be aggressive at the meeting, but show your worry as the parent and say you need a fuller explanation of how a trainee can manage complex surgery.

It depends, they may offer an alternative, or they may not. Perhaps they’ll be able to reassure her.

This - OP, you are getting a loy.of flack. Of course, you have a right to probe and ask further questions.

I'm not placing any value judgement on what I'm saying
just saying a lot of private hospitals simply don't have the staff or facilities to anaesthetise and care for children 🤷‍♀️

I would take this like a shot. You get not only someone experienced but a very senior individual supervising and stepping in - bringing far more experience than you would normally have.

So she can take what the NHS is offering then, or not have the operation.

My own child has had to have emergency surgery under GA in the past so I am not unsympathetic to that, but do still feel OP is BU in her expectations.

They will be experienced over several years. This is not a 'student' straight out of college but an experienced surgeon. He/she is being supervised for part of the operation. No way would this happen if the surgeon being supervised was not entirely competent.

Yes, but she didn't understand that, she wasn't being deliberately disparaging; she just didn't know. I feel like people have been unnecessarily mean to the OP. She's just worried and confused.

You do realise PP isn’t at work and how they act anonymously on the internet has absolutely no bearing or indication on how they might operate at work?

I also understand why you are so stressed, it is completely natural.

The surgical team is a team. You've got the person physically doing the work and all the specialist advisors gathered around leading and watching.

It is how things are done successfully. They are not letting someone off the leash to just go at it, as they see fit. As others have said it will be a very controlled environment.

Because Doctors below Consultant level aren't students at all. They may not be Consultants but they are still experienced Doctors.

I have malignant glaucoma. Have had laser treatment and six eye operations. You can either delay surgery and get your preferred surgeon or go private. I can't see any other option.

Everyone wants and deserves the very best surgeon for themselves, your son is no more special than anyone in that regard. But in order to become competent you have to learn. And learning under guidance of a more senior colleague is the process for that. If you trust the senior colleague than you have to trust they know that their ‘student’ is ready and capable of.

for what it’s worth I had complex eye surgery in 2015 but due to health complications I had to have it under local anaesthetic rather than full sedation. There was a fully qualified surgeon and a trainee under his guidance. I can’t unheard some of the horrors and the increasing alarm in their voice. But it was all fine in the end!

Also for those suggesting going private
This may not be an option given that this is a child requiring a GA.
not all private hospitals will offer this service

I think it's very easy to say the OP is being unreasonable when it's not YOUR child on the operating table.

She's not trying to denigrate the medical profession, she's scared. The stakes are extremely high for the OP and her son, but for everyone else it's just an online hypothetical discussion.

I think there have been some really helpful, insightful responses though that have explained the situation well, and OP has said herself that she has read them and is taking them onboard.

I’m surprised they actually told you it’s that standard a practice

Op sorry to hear about your son and wish him the best in his surgery. Aside from this i honesty don't think this thread is the best place to discuss your concerns. You already sound very set in your mindset so im not sure why you are trying to convince the thread of your opinion. Its your son not ours, you must speak to the team involved in his care and decide what you want to do accordingly. Wishing you all the best.

I would talk to the hospital and get more info.
They will know much more than anyone here can tell you.

I would feel just like you OP, but consider the fact that in a few operations time the same trainee could be flying solo - on paper better, but I'd probably choose the option where they're nearly done but still supervised.

In what? 🙂

Sorry you are getting such a hard time OP, I think most mums would understand why you are worried about the situation. Some of the posts on here seem to imply we should all just shut up and question nothing when it comes to our revered national health service.

If everyone says no to this, we will never have any experienced surgeons in the future and operations may not be performed at all. I agree with other posters that 2 heads are better than 1.

What procedure are they actually having done?

As a PP said it's fairly usual for a less experienced ophthalmologist to be supervised by an consultant.

I had a very rare knee operation a few years ago carried out by a top surgeon. Before the surgery I was asked if a fellow doctor could also be present and potentially do part of the surgery. I understood this was because my surgery was rare and opportunities for the other doctor to learn would be few and far between. I agreed and all was fine. I have to be honest though, I would admittedly be much more weary of this happening if it was my child undergoing the operation rather than myself. It’s one thing to make this decision for yourself but a whole other thing making the decision on behalf of your child.

My son had eye surgery earlier this year funnily enough and in your shoes I’m not sure what I would have said. I think I would have agreed to it, but maybe it’s one of those situations where you don’t know how you’d react unless it happened to you?