RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICERS' UNIT

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

The Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery consists of five Consultants, two Advanced Trainee Registrars, two Basic Trainee Registrar and two House Officers.

The Plastic Surgery Unit’s annual workload consists of approximately 2,500 inpatients and 4,000 outpatient attendances. The elective case load includes cleft lip and palate surgery, surgery for breast reconstruction following mastectomy, reconstruction of head and neck surgical defects following resection of malignancy and resection of skin malignancies. The acute case load consists of management of hand trauma including microsurgical replantation, management of burns and traumatic skin loss, and the management of facial lacerations and fractures.

Teaching

The Unit meets as a group one morning bi-weekly. These sessions include x-ray meetings, audit and histopathology. In addition to this are Registrar presentations or journal discussions.

Teaching for House Officers includes weekly anatomy lectures by Mr Duncan Simon in the first half of the year for those preparing for their primary surgical fellowship examinations. House Officers are encouraged to attend the Local Anaesthetic Theatre for resection of skin lesions under the supervision of a Consultant. House Officers are also encouraged to attend General Anaesthetic cases when available and also Outpatient Clinics. Plastic Surgery House Officer posts are particularly enjoyed by those wanting to pursue a surgical career.

Registrar training consists of outpatient, acute and elective surgical cases and a formal teaching programme. Registrars meet once weekly with one of the Unit’s Consultants to discuss a plastic surgical topic. These are run throughout the year. Training is given in local anaesthetic techniques, management of new patients presenting to the Unit and in theatre. The acute hand service is shared between the departments of Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery. The Basic Registrar position will be useful for those interested in pursuing Plastic Surgery as a career as well as wanting to pursue other surgical specialities.

For further information please contact

Mr Barnaby Nye, Clinical Director, telephone 64 (0)3 364 1428
email: barnaby.nye@cdhb.govt.nz