Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 January 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 January 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training is given to orthopaedic surgeons on prosthetics and orthotics, with specific reference to the functional implications of the various levels of amputation and residual limb lengths.

Answer: Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is given to orthopaedic surgeons on prosthetics and orthotics, with specific reference to the functional implications of the various levels of amputation and residual limb lengths. [26594] Jacqui Smith: The Royal College of Surgeons is the body responsible for the training of medical students on surgery. The majority of amputations are carried out by vascular and general surgeons, and relatively few are undertaken by orthopaedic surgeons. Orthopaedic surgeons receive training on amputations and prosthetics at various stages of the medical curriculum, such as: Medical students receive lectures and tutorials on general surgery, and are taken to a limb fitting centre. Basic surgical trainees will receive training from mainly vascular surgeons on the practical skills of "common amputations". Specialist Registrars receive higher surgical training on amputation and rehabilitation, and on prosthetics and orthotics.

Secondary information