The hospital surgical team

In hospitals you will encounter nursing staff and medical staff.  There are nurses to look after you both in the operating theatre and in the ward. The head nurse is known as the Nurse Unit Manager or NUM.  The NUM is in charge of all the nurses working in that ward.

The medical staff usually comprises of:

  1. The Consultant (specialist)
  2. The registrar: a doctor with more experience and is training to become a specialist
  3. Residents: have completed internship are usually applying into a specialty training program
  4. Interns: are doctors who are working in their first year after medical school


After your surgery, the whole team will be looking after you.  Each person will have a different role.