This is the last issue of the year so the first part of the editorial almost writes itself. This is to thank all of the authors, reviewers and associate editors for their contributions.
The authors, obviously, are recognised by virtue of their citations; the reviewers for this year are named in an appendix at the back of the journal. I would not want you to think that this acknowledgement is just routine – it is genuine.
Secondly, the associate editors – all named in every issue inside the front cover pages. In addition I would like to thank some associate editors who have stood down during the course of this year – Mr Crispin Wigfield and Mr Patrick Mitchell. I am grateful to both for their efforts and in particular Mr Patrick Mitchell who has been an associate editor for almost 8 years – and during this time has provided invaluable support to both myself and my predecessor.
Last but not least to the editorial staff at Informa – and in particular to Mr Jonathan Collard whose efforts should not go unrecognised; SBNS members should understand and appreciate the work he puts in to their abstracts for the SBNS meetings. There is also of course our editorial office assistant Linda Cossins, whose work also may go relatively unseen.
To the edition itself! The articles submitted I hope will speak for themselves, and be enjoyable. It is the journal's intent to award a prize for the most meritorious original article of the year, to honour the journal's founder Huw Griffith – the associate editor's and myself will be deliberating on this during the next month in order to announce the award in the first edition of next year – impact factor or citation record will not be the prime factor in the decision!!
By the time this edition reaches you, the first public domain presentation of surgeon specific results will be available – the journal will be interested in any reaction to this project – it is an area to which I have paid some attention in previous editorials.
I would also like to draw your attention to a letter from the President of the SBNS concerning the five year forward plan of the NHS and its various interpretations – food for thought for us all, though I think the whole matter is as yet too devoid of specifics – perhaps cynically you may feel this omission is deliberate. Again your reaction will be welcome to the journal.
Last of all – enjoy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!!!