FAL & the Surgeon

The surgeon will be able to access surgical assistants who are appropriately educated, trained and skilled in line with a recognised formalised assisting qualification. All our surgical assistants are experienced and knowledgeable about the type of surgery the surgeon performs and they are indemnified to undertake the assisting role. FAL's surgical assistants will also learn a surgeon's preferences and will facilitate in the smooth running of an operation.

Our surgical assistants are competent to “first assist” with:

• positioning of patients
• preparation and draping of patients
• different retraction methods to facilitate optimal visualisation of the operative site
• correct tissue handling
• handling and utilising the correct instrumentation for an operation
• minimal access surgery
• knot-tying and suturing
• surgical haemostasis
• correct and safe handling of specimens intra-operatively and following surgery
• wound drainage and wound closure
• applying casts
• perform male and female catheterisation

If required some of our assistants are additionally qualified to:

• Perform closure of subcutaneous tissue and skin
• Safely use and apply electrosurgery
• Tie ligatures
• Infiltrate the wound with local anaesthetic

Our surgical assistants are:

• Academically qualified
• Continually available
• Consistent in their surgical knowledge
• Experts in surgical assisting procedures
• Have the technical know-how of surgical equipment

Our surgical assistants are educated in and have an understanding of:

• Surgical Anatomy and related Physiology
• Basic principles of Pathology
• Principles of Anaesthesia and Anaesthetic Techniques
• Complications of Surgery
• Awareness of Preoperative, Postoperative and Critical Care
• Operating department skills and etiquette
• Principles of asepsis and the microbiological environment of the surgical patient
• Physiology of Wound Healing