Final Report > Chapter 14: External Assessment and Monitoring of the Quality of Care in Bristol > The Royal College of Surgeons of England
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The Royal College of Surgeons of England
22 During the period of our Terms of Reference, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE), in keeping with other Royal Colleges, visited teaching hospitals on a regular basis to inspect the training of those intending to make a career in surgery. The purpose of the visits was to ensure that the training was appropriate such as to warrant the designation of the hospital as suitable for training. Whatever the quality of the visits, and we have cause to criticise visits made to the BRI, [21] the RCSE was most anxious to make it clear that they did not have responsibility for assessing or monitoring the quality of the care provided at the hospitals which were visited. Mr Dussek, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Guy's Hospital, together with Professor David Hamilton visited the BRI in July 1994, on behalf on the Specialist Advisory Committee of the RCSE in Cardiothoracic Surgery. He informed us in a written statement that:
`The standard or quality of clinical services was a matter that was not usually addressed on any SAC visit and on this visit we did not address the issue. In retrospect of course this appears bizarre but it is only since the Bristol case came to light at the GMC [General Medical Council] hearing that attitudes have changed. It does seem obvious now that the quality of the surgery carried out would affect the quality of the training. However at that time, no SAC visit in any specialty to the best of my knowledge, ever looked at clinical outcome.' [22]
Thus, while others may have looked to the Royal Colleges to assess and monitor the quality of care, the College did not see its role as such. [23]
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Footnotes
[21] See later Chapter 16
[22] WIT 0067 0011 Mr Dussek