Extended Surgical Team (EST) pilot

Background

The Health Education England Extended Surgical Team (EST) pilot commenced in November 2020 and is aimed at new ‘extended’ surgical teams, which include consultants, doctors in training and SAS doctors, but the focus of the pilot is the role of multi professional team members. HEE have supported the development of pilot sites to explore the development of the EST in new areas to both improve workforce provision and enable improvement provision of surgical training.

The EST pilot is a reproduceable model which sees service improvement and added value for surgical units. Compared to usual practice, the EST is expected to generate value:

• For the health and care system, by providing: a cost-effective alternative to “usual practice” staffing models, improved system efficiency and improved workforce longevity and productivity
• For surgeons in training, enabling more time to focus on activities which promote training and learning
• For EST advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs), providing opportunities for clinical career progression and skills enhancement

Two reports with the findings of this pilot have been produced by the Health Education England Extended Surgical Teams (HEE EST) project team with input, modification and comment from the extended surgical team (EST) pilot community and the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT). The Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) and Confederation of Postgraduate Schools of Surgery (CoPSS) have also contributed.  

Read more about the Year 1 report

Read more about the Year 2 report

Plans for Year 3

Return on Investment Tool (Business Case)

News