Surgical care practitioners in orthopaedics
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: In Europe during the Middle Ages, the Church’s control permeated the whole of society including medical and surgical training. Doctors at the time were predominantly members of the clergy. An edict from Pope Innocent III in 1215 forbade members of the clergy from performing surgical procedures.1 Hence, while physicians pursued a university education surgery became primarily the domain of craftsmen, local wise men and barbers. The predecessor of the Royal College of Surgeons was the Guild of Barbers and Surgeons of London. This collaboration was formed by an Act of Parliament ratified by King Henry VIII in 1540. It sought to unite this disparate body of practitioners of surgery as well as legitimatising the profession and maintaining standards. In Europe in the 1700s, surgeons began to engage in formal medical training similar to the system seen today.1 The 21st century has seen a revolution in the provision of healthcare in the Western World. It has witnessed the creation and expansion of the role of surgical care practitioners who, while not being medically qualified, are involved in varying degrees with the provision of surgical services. They are employed in trusts throughout the UK. With this article we explore the role of the surgical care practitioners in orthopaedic surgery.
Authors: Vivek Gulati, Ashley I. Simpson, Chika Uzoigwe, Matthew Jaggard, Charles Gibbons, Chinmay Gupte, Andrew Williams
Language: English
Topic: Nursing Roles and Practices
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2344105247