Consultant supervision of trainees seeing inpatient ward referrals - a cause for concern?

The adequate supervision of trainee doctors seeing ward referrals is critical to the quality of patient care and medical training. This survey assessed the level and nature of supervision of trainees in neurology and comparable specialities. 123 neurology specialty registrars from nine deaneries across the UK and 81 dermatology, rheumatology and infectious disease specialty registrars from the London deanery completed the survey. Only 11% of first year neurology and 21% of first year non-neurology registrars reported that the most common method of supervision when seeing ward referrals was for consultants to see ward referrals with them. The remaining first year neurology and non-neurology registrars reported being primarily supervised by discussing cases with consultant (62% and 37% respectively) or being asked to contact a consultant if help was needed (35% and 42% respectively). The lack of adequate supervision of junior trainees seeing ward referrals has significant implications for both patient safety and training.