Teaching future surgeons: a step towards better training?

The teaching initiative discussed seems to have had a positive impact from the viewpoint of competence and technical skills. We were disappointed that the article does not explore the cost implications to the hospital (if any) of this model, and how the model was developed with trust (hospital) approval. The careful balancing of service delivery and training has clear parallels in the university research and teaching model, where research funding is vital to ensure universities maintain fi nancial equilibrium.