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 First Assistants meet this criteria.
