neurosurgery in UK

[Bambi]

That's true. Neurosurgery is about 50% emergency work isn't it? Do neurosurgeons who predominantly carry out spinal surgery do emergency on-calls for intra-cranial haematomas etc? Or will that fall to the aneurysm and tumour surgeons (I have a big interest in neurosurgery )?

The consultants rotate the on-calls like for any other specialty, when they are on call they deal with whatever comes in. If people only dealt with certain things everyone would have to be on-call for their specific thing every day which would be ridiculous.

[alex MD]

I said a lot, not all.
50% is the standard quoted figure but I know some that do more than that, it depends though what your special interests are. 50% is a hell of a lot more than other specialties, plastics has quite a bit but nothing like that amount.

What is emergency plastics? Is it mainly hand surgery, such as reattaching fingers? Or do they do emergency skin grafts etc (if there's such a thing :P)?

[GiuseppeGooch]

Actually the best paid specialist is not brainsurgeon, its spine surgery. It's more "difficult" and the pressure is higher, you really could paralyze a patient if you damage a spinal cord or if it gets infected. But if your into it for the money then you should stop right here, I recommend you to apply for engineering, and work for an oil company, the amount of money is insane believe me.

If you for example gets an opportunity to operate a patient with an intracranial hemmorhages that occured in the lower parts of the brain, near the Cerebellum and you know how whats on stake. The money is incredibly good, would you take the chance for the sake of the money or because you love to challenge yourself and become more experienced surgeon? I believe myself a good surgeon would consider the money the last thing.