Publication of surgical outcomes-data: whose team are we on?

In 2013, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS), in partnership with the National Health Service of England (NHSE) began public disclosure of outcomes-data for individual hospitals and named surgeons. Data have been published for the following surgical disciplines: adult cardiac, bariatric, colorectal, headandneck,thyroidandendocrine,gastrointestinal,urological, vascular (plus interventional cardiology). Politicians may argue that this is a ‘revolution in transparency’. The public might applaud this as a way to empower patients and facilitate their decision-making. Surgeons might, albeit with trepidation, welcome the opportunity for comparison with peers. Those of us in anaesthesia and intensive care, however, might want to ask: ‘what does it mean to us?’ and ‘are we on the team or not?’