General surgical training in the Netherlands
Miss Veldkamp has the advantage of having trained in both British and Dutch hospitals. Entry into Dutch surgical training is as hard as the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) hurdles: in the former case it is gained by research degree and publication or as a 'noticeable' SHO. Overall, the level of competence achieved by the Dutch scheme would appear to be a little behind that of our own training, although that may well change following MMC. On completion of training a number of Dutch trainees take up a fellowship post before assuming independent practice…shades of the future in the UK? In such a sophisticated country as the Netherlands it is an anomaly for general surgeons to continue to manage orthopaedic trauma. Yet again, another EU country appears to have cocked a snook at European Working Time Directive.