head, attending, consultant

I'm a UK doctor and I've never heard the term "an attending" used so maybe it's American english????

Yes, "Attending physician" is a U.S. term, meaning the doctor in charge of the case.

I worked in hospitals in the US ... an Attending is the Physician who works for the hospital and is in charge of a particular patient's case - therefore, Attendings are hospital employees (although they may only have hospital affiliation and not work full time for the hospital), have completed their residence and their specialty licensing exams. When I worked in the US, we had Attendings in every

an attending is a consultant in the speciality he/she is working... he may ask for a consult for a diff problem if needed from an attending of that other speciality... i hope this clears the confusing post above