David L. Hamblen, PhD, FRCS

The unexpected result of the referendum on leaving the European Union is still sending shockwaves through the financial and political systems of the United Kingdom. It is still too early to know the full impact this will have on the NHS because of doubt on the timing and terms of Britain’s exit. However, concerns are already being expressed of its effects on increasing shortages in medical and nurse staffing.

The untimely and tragic death of Rob Trace at the young age of 41 years came as a severe shock to all of us who knew and worked with him on the Orthopaedics Today publications.

The impending introduction of the final phase of the European Working Time Directive has caused increasing concern for the maintenance of surgical practice and training in the United Kingdom.

The well-documented failure of the British Medical Training Application Service led to a period of uncertainty and confusion for many junior doctors in 2007. It also resulted in a rash of resignations from among the senior medical figures involved in the implementation of the new Modernizing Medical Careers scheme for postgraduate training.

I confess that when I was invited to join the editorial board of Orthopaedics Today International in 1998, I felt uncertain as to the future viability of the new Slack Incorporated project.

This editorial was originally planned to address the emerging problems in orthopaedic surgical practice following the recent changes to specialty training throughout much of Europe. But the dramatic medico-political events in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks surrounding the selection process, and described in detail in this issue, now justify broader coverage (See related article).

David L. Hamblen

David L. Hamblen

--- David L. Hamblen, PhD, FRCS

--- David L. Hamblen, PhD, FRCS