ATLS: are we training the wrong people?

BACKGROUND

Despite the evolution, expansion and popularity of emergency medicine as a medical specialty in the United Kingdom (UK), emergency departments are still primarily staffed by senior house officers (second and third year graduates), particularly at weekends and at night.

METHODS

A telephone and postal survey of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training completed by this cohort of doctors indicates that UK courses are failing to train adequate numbers.

RESULTS

It can thus be argued that ATLS is not being disseminated to the relevant grass-roots of medical care, where it is likely to be of the most benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study discusses possible reasons for this and offers constructive solutions to the problem. Although the matters discussed in this study refer to UK medical practice, they may be of relevance and interest to Australasian practitioners. Is EMST in Australasia training the appropriate group of doctors?