New training pilot for surgeons of the future gets underway

The first cohort of surgical trainees to take part in the Improving Surgical Training (IST) pilot will take up their posts today (1 August 2018).  The pilot training programme, developed by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and Health Education England (HEE), will trial innovative improvements in the quality of training, a better balance between service and training for trainees, and professionalisation of the role of surgical trainers.

The programme is being piloted in general surgery at over 30 different trusts across England, Scotland and Wales from today, with 80 surgical trainees taking part. From August 2019, trainees in urology and vascular surgery will also join the pilot. Applications for posts in all pilot specialties will open in November 2018. Applications will be made through the Core surgery national selection process, via Oriel.

Rotas in the IST pilot will provide trainees with 60% elective daytime training activity. Each trainee will also have a minimum of one hour per week to receive feedback from their trainer and reflect on their work. Enhanced training for IST trainers has been developed and delivered by the RCS via dedicated two-day boot camps.

In addition to improving surgical training, the pilot will also focus on wider team learning as part of the concept of the ‘modern firm’. This is where members of the wider surgical care team, including physician associates and surgical care practitioners, help support the trainee in a positive and collaborative manner.

Professor Wendy Reid, Executive Director of Education and Quality and Medical Director, Health Education England, said:

 

“I am delighted to see the first Improving Surgical Training pilots going live this week and would like to thank all those that have contributed to this important initiative. Improving Surgical Training provides an exciting opportunity to enhance training in general surgery – and, in due course, training in other surgical specialties - to help improve patient care. We will, of course, be monitoring the pilots closely and HEE will also fund a formal evaluation of the scheme to inform future developments.”

Further information about the pilot can be found here or, on the RCS website.