The implementation of the European Working Time Directive, from the Council of the European Union (93/104/EC), in August 2004 has provoked a change in the working hours of junior doctors in the United Kingdom. With the evolution of the subsequent cross-cover arrangements combined with the modernising of medical careers,(1) training is becoming increasingly important. Here we present a simple method of teaching junior doctors the skills and competencies required to aspirate a peritonsillar abscess or 'quinsy'. The model is easy to construct, low cost and reusable.