To reject trainee surgeon?

I would have more confidence in a more junior surgeon being supervised by a consultant. The consultant is going to be keeping an extra close eye and certainly wouldn't let the junior proceed if they weren't confidence. The trainee isn't going to have a momentary distraction, or get slapdash because they've done it a million times, or be called out for something half way through.

The most experienced surgeon is not necessarily the best one.

Just read that your child will be under GA, chances are this will not be a consultant either. I can understand why if you’re not medical this can seem scary or unsafe, but as much as I a stranger online can assure you, it will be fine

They wouldn’t let the doctor operate if they weren’t confident he or she could deliver the same outcome as the other surgeon.
The experienced surgeon will be making this judgment. And it sounds like you already have faith in his or her judgement.

Aww Sweetheart, scary time a.
I think you should think about what concerns you , write it down and see if you can speak to the surgeon, who I'm sure would be willing to alleviate any fears about the "trainee".
You are going to be anxious enough about this surgery.
Hope everything goes excellently
🫂 💐

My husband anaesthetises children and is a “trainee” , is the most senior doctor in ICU at night and is a “trainee” , the surgeon who did my emergency c section at 1am was a “trainee”. Trainee doctor or “resident doctor” as they’re newly called. The old term was “junior doctor” but that was recently changed as the perception from the public was often that they’re medical students or inexperienced.

The surgeon will be a registrar so will have completed 5-6 years of medical school, 2 years of foundation, 2 years of core training and then 6 years of registrar training. They also have immensely difficult postgraduate exams throughout all of this. Often they will be in training for longer than the above time frame due to taking time out to do a PHD or work on portfolio so they can have a better chance or working where in the UK they want to, time out to have children etc.

The registrar will have the consultant on hand in theatre as it is a planned daytime surgery, and even if it was the middle of the night they can contact an oncall consultant to come in if things get hairy.

It will be fine.

This with bells on

@RunningThroughMyHead I totally understand where you are coming from, you want the absolute best person for the job operating on your child, as you should. Someone else upthread was correct though, it could be the case that the registrar did this operation two months ago and the consultant last did it two years ago. This is not going to be someone fresh out of medical school!

This is my thinking too

I had eye surgery under local anaesthetic by a fully qualified opthalmologist under the supervision of a more experienced opthalmologist. It was a bit disconcerting to hear the senior doctor explain things to the less experienced doctor but good that every cut and stitch was closely monitored. Surgeons need to do a certain number of operations under supervision before they can work unsupervised. If they don't get that experience then fewer will be able to do that surgery in future. If it's a difficult or more unusual surgery it is likely that they have experience of less complex surgeries but not the exact one your son is having. Think of it as driving with a driving instructor.
Assume your son would have a general anaesthetic.

As others have said, it's the equivalent of having two highly qualified surgeons - one who has more experience, one who has had more recent training in the latest medical techniques and technology.

You're getting a bit of a roasting here OP - I feel for you as a mum who spent yesterday standing outside a hospital theatre suite waiting for news on my DS. It's not fun.

I'd honestly not have trusted DH alone at an appointment for something like this - when it's something so serious and important, I think ideally both parents should be there in case there's any confusion or anything is missed.

We've spent a lot of time in hospitals with DS recently and I've been quite surprised (several times) by how different DHs interpretation of what was said by medical professionals has been to mine. I have somewhat more medical knowledge than he does and definitely have better listening skills (as part of my day job).

Could you ring the consultant's secretary or your own GP for some reassurance around exactly what they told DH?

You can refuse but remember many experienced docs have god complex that can also lead to poor outcomes. And as others have said this will be a well trained doc with years of experience.

Having ended up with many injuries and long term disability from a student “specialist” including spinal injuries from a student anesthetist when I had my c section I refuse to let anyone without either professor or a Mr who is a surgeon operate on me or my kids!! You are NOT being unreasonable at all!!! Just go back to them and tell them you would feel more comfortable having the surgeon himself operate on your child and the student is ok to be there to watch but NOT to operate or touch your child’s eye at all!!!

Yes YABU. They will be under the close eye of the senior surgeon.

I'd ask for clarification. They may just be there learning, or doing a small routine part. Id feel at least that the experienced surgeon would especially want it to go well if they are showing someone else. (not that they'd ever not want it to go well, but I might actually feel reassured having two people there).

I had surgery recently and the super senior consultant did it - it was the middle of the night and they got him up to come in and do it. To my alarm, I think I heard him say "I haven't done one of these for a while" as they were knocking me out. (turned out fine)

Referring to them as a student is very disrespectful.
They are qualified Dr's.
I also said that the registrar may have done the operation more recently as Consultant step away to allow the registrar the experience, they'll be on hand per see, but it may have been some time since they single handed did the op.
This is common in surgery.

Ophthalmology residents train for 7 years
they are all supervised when operating but all need to be trained and competent so in years to come we have surgeons that can operate on the next generation of patients
They aren't a "student".
And it is likely that in this scenario the two surgeons would be working side by side through the procedure ensuring you'd get more not less oversight of the procedure

If you want to choose a surgeon you need to pay for that privately I’m afraid.

It won’t be a student - it’ll likely be a registrar.

I had a senior surgeon do an operation on me 19 years ago that he had only ever seen done once. Well, a new way of doing the operation. I’m glad I did because I’ve had 10 more years of mobility than I would have had if he had done it the old way.

They all have to learn. And cadavers and dummies and video simulations can only take them so far.

But that said, it’s not like they’re just going to let a student loose on a patient without supervision.

I understand where you are coming from op. I think you might have to sign a form saying you agree to this. I would ask for more information, maybe the grade of surgeon who will operate as mentioned up thread. You could also ask what exact part the trainer surgeon will play during the procedure. If you aren't happy with the answers don't sign. I don't what the outcome of that would be though. Whether you would be placed further down the list or even maybe have to go private. The NHS is very careful with children I believe so hopefully all will be well. 💐

I had complex less common eye surgery last year. The consultant and the young colleague("trainee") worked together and the consultant took over at various tricky points to show her. It was absolutely fine. Also unusual as I was awake while it happened and they were talking to me / each other calmly - which was very reassuring .

Why are you being so contrite?