Primary Care 200AD10 Nov 2007

But where did he go for his training needs?

We were interested to read recently that what appears to be the oldest surgery in the world has been excavated at Rimini, Italy. Those of you with long memories may have fond recollections of one Dr Aloysius O'Flaherty who, as Michael O'Donnell related, practised (for want of a better word) in Slagthorpe Surgery. Apparently the new-found surgery even pre-dates that establishment, having been in use 1,800 years ago by a doctor named Eutyches.

Some of the instruments found were similar to present day weapons such as dental forceps, scalpels and scales. Podiatry was obviously important as a bottle in the shape of a foot into which warm liquids could be poured was found.

Archaeologists also discovered some instruments which would not, we hope, find a place in modern primary care, including one for trepanning and another for removing arrowheads from wounds. There were also few signs that primary care commissioning and national service frameworks or, indeed, the NHS were in existence in 200AD.