Supporting surgeons and patients in adversity

Pictured L to R at the annual Charter Day meeting at the RCSI are Prof Tim Rockall, Consultant Surgeon at Royal Surrey Hospital, UK, and Chairman of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Invited Review Mechanism; RCSI President Mr Kenneth Mealy; and Prof Hilary Sanfey, Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair for Education, Southern Illinois University, US. The meeting addressed the issue of supporting surgeons and patients when things go wrong. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Mealy urged the Government to prioritise the development of elective hospitals in the review of capital health projects taking place in the context of the projected overspend on the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin. Mr Mealy said: “I have written to the Taoiseach and Minister for Health, expressing the RCSI’s strong view that any delay in developing the elective hospitals would have serious implications for patients on waiting lists for scheduled surgery.”