Abstract

Minimum surgeon volumes have been introduced in multiple specialties in the UK with the aim of improving patient outcomes. This includes endocrine surgery, pertinent to ENT surgeons performing thyroid and parathyroid surgery, where a minimum annual workload of 20 cases is recommended. Further implementation of minimum surgeon volumes could lead to substantial changes to service provision, including centralisation of procedures, turf wars between specialties, an accelerated shift of elective surgery to the private sector and a disproportionate impact on female surgeons.