Team working, ethos and the uncomfortable conversation

There has been a bit of a kerfuffle in the UK with the recent #hammeritout campaign, organised by the British Orthopaedic Trainees Association, in response to an electronic survey completed by around half the membership concerning undermining, bullying and harassment in the surgical workplace. This has not yet occurred in other western workplaces, but the issues raised are just as relevant. What has followed has been a series of uncomfortable conversations, and these are difficult conversations to have from every perspective. The headline results (available at www.bota.org.uk/hammer-it-out/) have been felt to be relevant to other specialties with campaigns in general surgery, anaesthetics and max fax well on their way. The initial response to survey results, such as 43% of …