Two week waits: What are we waiting for?

Objectives: To evaluate the two-week referral system by analysing the 2-week wait (2WW) referrals to the rapid access gynaecology clinic over one year. We have also sought to identify the risk factors for endometrial cancer to help setting criteria that can be used to prioritise urgent appointments, refine subsequent management strategies.

Study Design: Retrospective review of the data of all women referred for suspected gynaecological cancers over one year via the 2 WW office at Queen's Hospital, Romford, UK.

Craniofacial resection and its role in the management of sinonasal malignancies.

Sinonasal malignancy is rare, and its presentation is commonly late. There is a wide variety of pathologies with varying natural histories and survival rates. Anatomy of the skull base is extremely complex and tumors are closely related to orbits, frontal lobes and cavernous sinus.

The geographical distribution of specialists in public health in the United Kingdom: is capacity related to need?

Objectives: Recent organizational changes reflect the need to be more responsive to local populations and have included fostering a closer structural relationship between primary care and public health. In light of this, we explore the distribution of the specialist public health workforce and the relationship with population deprivation and need.

Study Design: Questionnaire survey to all directors of public health working in primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England to determine the number of specialists in public health working in either PCTs or SHAs.

Developing a speciality: regearing the specialist public health workforce.

Objectives: To identify issues surrounding the future training needs of the specialist public health workforce following the most recent restructuring of the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

Methods: All directors of public health (DsPH) based in strategic health authorities and nine senior staff working in public health at the regional level were invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview.

Results: Twenty-six people were interviewed.

Specialist public health capacity in England: working in the new primary care organizations.

Objectives: To determine the capacity and development needs, in relation to key areas of competency and skills, of the specialist public health workforce based in primary care organizations following the 2001 restructuring of the UK National Health Service.

Study Design: Questionnaire survey to all consultants and specialists in public health (including directors of public health) based in primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England.

Results: Participants reported a high degree of competency.