The History of FAL
First Assistants Ltd ("FAL") was established with the needs of the surgeon, the hospital and the patient in mind. FAL has taken all the associated issues on board and is able to provide the services of a qualified surgical assistant as a ‘first assistant’ to the surgeon. FAL can provide a surgical assistant who has attained a recognised academic qualification in the knowledge and skills to assist in the surgical care of patients. FAL can guarantee their continued availability, expertise and technical know-how in all surgical assisting procedures and techniques.

Who is our First Assistant
Our first assistants are individuals specially trained and qualified to act as a surgical assistant to surgeons and who actively participate in the operating room under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon. With the introduction of the European Working Time Directive ("EWTD") and a reorganisation of surgical training programme a demand has arisen whereby:

• Patients need quality and continued care during all aspects of surgery; and
• Surgeons need access to experts who can assist them and provide assistance on a constant and formalised basis.

The impact of the reduction in junior doctors’ hours (Junior Doctors: the new deal (NHSME 1991), the restructure of the surgical training programme (Hospital Doctors Training for the Future (DoH 1993) and the implementation of the EWTD have attributed to the increase demand for non-medical staff to assist a surgeon. Legislation, however, is steering to ensure that all non-medical staff acting in an assisting role are appropriately educated, trained and skilled and that they are properly indemnified. FAL’s surgical assistants meet the required criteria.