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Pleural procedures may cause patient discomfort and serious complications if performed inadequately. We surveyed junior doctors to provide information about training and experience.We surveyed 493 junior doctors working in departments involved in pleural procedures in three teaching hospitals via postal questionnaires in 2002.The response rate was 66%. Formal training in the performance of pleural procedures was limited at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Theoretical training at postgraduate level in pleural aspiration, chest drain insertion, and closed pleural biopsies was reported by 34%, 40%, and 14% of respondents respectively. Practical training using animal or artificial models occurred infrequently. Pleural aspiration, chest drain insertion, and pleural biopsy had been performed at least once by 91%, 66%, and 41% of respondents respectively. Most doctors felt they needed more training in chest drain insertion and pleural biopsy. Confidence in performing procedures was related to the number of times the procedure had been performed but not to formal teaching.This study provides a comprehensive survey of the background training, experience and confidence levels of junior medical staff in performing pleural procedures. Training in pleural procedures was limited and our results suggest the need for better training programmes and supervision of junior doctors.

To determine the patient characteristics, referral patterns and delays in assessment and treatment of patients with primary lung cancer in South Auckland, New Zealand and compare with international standards.Retrospective review of the clinical records of 80 patients referred to a secondary care respiratory service and diagnosed with primary lung cancer in 2004.Eighty-five percent of inpatient referrals and 48.5% of outpatient referrals were for advanced stage lung cancers. The median interval from receipt of outpatient referral to first chest physician assessment was 18 days, with median interval from the first chest physician assessment to bronchoscopy of 17 days and for staging CT chest of 16 days. For patients requiring a CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration for diagnosis, there was a further median delay of 37 days after the initial CT scan. The median interval from the date of receipt of initial outpatient referral to diagnosis was 38 days, but for early stage lung cancers it was 54 days. The median interval to diagnosis for inpatient admissions was 6 days after the first respiratory assessment.The intervals for initial assessment, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer in South Auckland do not meet the recommendations of international guidelines, especially for early stage lung cancers. Organisational and resource changes are required at each point in the diagnostic and management pathway to reduce delays.