Abortion
Dr Savage's suggestion of a central register is an excellent one, but its purpose must clearly be twofold: to find doctors to fill the many vacant posts in mission hospitals and to help those currently working overseas to find suitable posts on returning to the United Kingdom.
Abstract
SIR,-As one of the holders of Dr Anne Savage's BTAf (Been to Africa) (14 July, p 111), I wish to congratulate her on an excellent article. She conveys admirably the various aspects of mission hospital work and I hope the article will inspire other doctors in training to undertake similar overseas activities. One of the greatest worries facing a junior doctor wishing to spend a period of time abroad is his concern that a place on the career ladder at home will be lost. This is a very real problem and enough to deter all but the most enthusiastic. Dr Savage's suggestion of a central register is an excellent one, but its purpose must clearly be twofold: to find doctors to fill the many vacant posts in mission hospitals and to help those currently working overseas to find suitable posts on returning to the United Kingdom. My own specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology is one which particularly lends itself to a term overseas. We are all required to spend an elective year in another specialty or in a completely different environment. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists accepted my year working with a general surgeon in a mission hospital in the Ivory Coast. When the time for us to leave was approaching the hospital wrote to the college asking them if they could find a replacement for me. We received a very courteous reply, but alas no surgeon. I am sure there are many other doctors working at home and abroad who share Dr Savage's views. I should very much like to see them making use of these columns to publicise their support so that some positive action can be taken to improve the security, respectability, and number of BTAfs. C J CHANDLER