The Royal College of Surgeons of England

“Volunteering is easily the most fulfilling and fun part of my schedule, always leaving me energised and optimistic about the future. We need volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds to truly understand the issues that surgeons face across the UK and globally. Getting involved in College life guarantees that you will have a much bigger impact on the surgical world, and hopefully, you can improve things for the next generation.” - Laura Hamilton, Council member and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Explore the many ways you can get involved with the College in the Volunteers' issue of the : https://ow.ly/RUAQ50SM9f4

Curious about what roles are available now? Find out: https://ow.ly/6tGi50SM9f5

“No matter how technically competent or senior you are, if you abuse your position as a surgeon, you will have no place in our College.” — Senior Vice-President and Lead for Tackling Sexual Misconduct in Surgery, Vivien Lees, and President, Tim Mitchell.

Today we introduce our new Code of Conduct for our members, non-member volunteers and staff. This is just one of the actions that we are taking to eradicate sexual misconduct in surgery.

Read our news piece to learn more: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/archive/new-code-of-conduct-tackling-sexual-misconduct-in-surgery/

Ever wondered why patient representatives are so crucial during interviews for medical staff? It's simple: they bring a unique perspective that bridges the gap between candidates and the real-world needs of patients. 🤝

In this article, Robert Duggan walks us through his experiences volunteering as a patient representative on surgical interview panels: "I loved finding out about people. I also liked to demonstrate to myself that we are all the same: we get nervous, we get tired, we don't like bullies, we react differently to things."

What did this role teach him about the ideal candidate? Find out: https://ow.ly/Tkog50SKW8w

16% of women in surgical training reported experiencing unwelcome sexual comments or advances, in the General Medical Council (GMC) national training survey today. There is considerable work to do to eradicate abhorrent behaviours in our profession.

The action we are taking ➡️https://ow.ly/LzuW50SKebS

Have you ever donated money or surgical equipment to support surgical care during conflict, crisis or disaster? Have you travelled on a medical mission to provide surgical support to those in need?

We'd like to know about your experiences to help us improve our support for humanitarian surgery in the future.

Please complete our survey by 16 August: https://ow.ly/b4PF50SHfv4

A recent surgical hackathon combined innovation and sustainability, bringing together medical professionals and engineers to tackle some of the biggest challenges in healthcare. From reducing surgical waste to leveraging AI for better outcomes, participants reported a 20% increase in their confidence in tackling healthcare issues upon completing the event.

Who were the big prize winners, and what methods did they use? Read the latest article from the to find out: https://ow.ly/pQ3X50SCj18

At just seven years old, Samantha Tross declared to her family that she was going to be a surgeon.

Later, in 2005, Samantha became the first Black woman to become a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the UK and the first women in Europe to perform hip surgery using Stryker’s Mako robotic system.

In her interview in our latest , Samantha describes orthopaedics as “a specialty I truly love” which stood out in her early career: “I was made to feel part of the team, and I liked the fact that the patients were diverse – male and female, young and old…”

Samantha, who was born in Guyana, South America, offers a wealth of advice for trainees in her interview, and to those from an African or Caribbean background, says: “I hope they can believe in themselves and not be afraid to pursue their dreams or speak up, despite systemic challenges or discrimination. The culture is changing, albeit slowly. Meanwhile they should empower themselves with repeated positive self-affirmations and look for the positive aspects in all feedback.”

Link to the article in our bio or search “Samantha Tross Bulletin” in Google.

How can you be an effective surgical leader?

Read our guide and find out how you can help create a safe and compassionate environment for patients and staff. You’ll also find recommendations and standards to support your training and development.

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/standards-and-guidance/good-practice-guides/leadership/

"It is highly rewarding and gives me an insight into the often complicated relationship between RCS England and the NHS."

Ever wondered who ensures the highest standards in appointing surgical consultants? It's dedicated volunteers like you. In this article, we examine the Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC): what it is, what it does and why it is critical for the NHS. We also spoke to Sheo Tibrewal, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Marc Patterson, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, about their experiences as College assessors.

⭐Why should you join?
▪️ Gain unique insights into consultant recruitment.
▪️ Enhance your interview skills.
▪️ Ensure the best candidates are appointed.
▪️ Contribute to maintaining high standards in surgical practice.

Curious? Read the full article for insights and how to apply:
https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/abs/10.1308/rcsbull.2024.89

“I have enjoyed every moment of my time as an RD and can honestly say that it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The Regional committee gets regular opportunities to feed into and observe Council discussions, and I feel that the career development opportunities offered in this role are incredibly valuable. I have made new friends in specialties outside my own and have had access to great ideas and innovations that I would not have had if I had not got involved in this role. The staff at the College are excellent, and they are always on hand to support and guide the RD as they navigate their way through the various surgical teams and organisations.” - Arin Saha, Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Director.

Regional Directors play a key role in building relationships, feeding back the key issues in surgery and working with the College to facilitate support for local members and fellows.

Could you be our next Regional Director in Scotland? Find out more and apply by 12 August: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education-and-exams/exams/examiner-vacancies/

MRCS Part B Cairo exam results will be released tomorrow, 16 July 📢

Last month, 180 candidates, over 5 days, took our MRCS Part B exam, which was held in the Liver Transplant Unit of Maadi Military Hospital, Cairo. We are grateful to the British and Egyptian examiners who gave their time to invigilate this exam.

Do you have what it takes to help the next generation of surgeons undertake their exams? You can help us invigilate exams in the UK or internationally. Find out more: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education-and-exams/exams/examiner-vacancies/

How might robotic surgery impact the training and education of future surgeons?

Join the discussion with consultant colorectal surgeon and Council Lead for Future of Surgery and Robotics, Nuha Yassin, at our Robotics webinar on 9 September. Nuha is also the lead for Robotic Colorectal Surgery at her trust and has recently become the first female national proctor for robotic colorectal surgery in the UK.

Register now to explore the future of surgery from a technological and human standpoint. Free for members: https://app.medall.org/event-listings/robotics-webinar

Do you believe your trust is as sustainable as it can be?

Consultant general surgeon and sustainability expert Adam Peckham-Cooper introduced sustainable surgical practices to his trust, showcasing the benefits of green surgery and advocating for changes in existing practices.

Join Adam as he shares how he achieved this at our Starting Surgical Practice in the NHS conference on 13 September. Free for members: https://ow.ly/7wW650SobIa

Have you heard of Plarr's Lives of the Fellows? In this article, we explore this invaluable archive of biographies of every fellow of our College since 1843.

From Eleanor Davies-Colley, the first female fellow, to Madhukar Kulkarni, who saved the life of a patient with a subdural haematoma using a 240V Black and Decker drill, our collection celebrates the remarkable achievements and unique journeys of our fellows.

Started by Victor Plarr in 1930, Plarr's Lives transitioned online in 2006, making these stories more accessible than ever, with over 10,000 visitors a month.

Read the article: https://ow.ly/oayZ50SzmMa

Managing trauma in pregnant women presents unique challenges due to physiological changes and fetal considerations. In July's , we highlight a recent study surveying 125 acute NHS trusts in England and 6 in Wales, which revealed a lack of consistency in guidelines. This study found that:

👉19% of trusts have specific guidelines for managing major trauma in pregnant women.
👉7.9% have generic guidelines that include trauma management.
👉 69.8% routinely involve obstetrics in trauma calls, but only 36.5% involve paediatrics.

Will developing and implementing national guidelines save lives? Read more to find out: https://ow.ly/sC9M50SvcW8

This week, we celebrated with over 375 diplomates and their families. Congratulations to everyone who has received their MRCS and FRCS�

Among all the members and fellows we have welcomed to our College, we were delighted to admit Professor Laura Viani, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding, President of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and Armando Mansilha as honorary fellows.

We have also awarded Michael Bath the Sir Cecil Wakeley Medal for the most read Annals article written by a trainee. You can read it here: https://ow.ly/9AMn50SwXwO

Well done to all our members and fellows, we've enjoyed celebrating with you this week.

What is Boerhaave syndrome? How varied is the treatment for pregnant women presenting with major trauma nationally? What are the economic impacts of preoperative delays? Find out in the July issue of the .

Read the full issue: https://ow.ly/T82P50SuE7V

What do Coronation Street and our newest MRCS Part B exam centre have in common? They are both in Manchester 🙌

You can now choose between London, Glasgow and Manchester for your most accessible exam option. Book now for October 2024: https://ow.ly/7MzP50SusVn

Need some help preparing? Affiliate members can access resources such as webinars, our Anatomy and Pathology Museum e-resource, and RCS England Library research support. Read more: https://ow.ly/Vcha50SusTc

From spreading awareness of chronic conditions to supporting museum activities at the College, the July issue of the celebrates the contributions, hard work and commitment of our College volunteers and those in healthcare.

Highlights include:

🤝 Volunteering for the International Surgical Training Programme (ISTP).

🔍 Volunteers in surgery: recognising the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

🤷‍♂️ What does our Council do? An insight into governance.

📚 RCS England Faculty: educating the next generation of surgeons.

Join us in celebrating the dedication and impact of volunteers within our surgical community.

Read the whole issue: https://ow.ly/rcwk50SsJJO

Did you know that there are 38 million refugees in the world and that 75% of them are hosted in low- and middle-income countries?

We're going global as we continue our Global Surgical Frontiers Conference on day two. This afternoon, we're tackling the hard questions about culture, stigma and refugee healthcare access in with one of our breakout sessions hosted by the Refugee Crisis Foundation, Somaliland Health Exchange (SHE) and Operation International UK.

Please use to tag us🙌

Annals Editor's Pick📢

Did you know that poor communication is one of the most likely causes of surgical error? We all make mistakes, but we can learn how to prevent them or mitigate the potential harm.

This article explores human factors, how they impact surgery and how to avoid them:

👉 Keep your communication clear and ask questions.
👉 Stay hydrated and take breaks.
👉 Maintain morale with empowering and respectful behaviour.
👉 Be mindful of the signs of burnout.

Read now: https://ow.ly/Sk1o50Sn8wg

Annals Editor's Pick 📢

What does research from 1980-2021 tell us about the prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs)?

With SSIs accounting for a fifth of hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance on the rise, this article in the explores a review focusing on nonantibiotic treatments that have found the following to be effective in reducing SSIs:

▪️ chlorhexidine skin preparation with alcohol
▪️ pressurized wound irrigation
▪️ triclosan-coated sutures for wound closures
▪️ negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)

Read the full article for more detail: https://ow.ly/NJxn50Sn9mO

Do you want to know more about a topic? Maybe you're gathering evidence, or deep into your research and need some support? We can conduct bespoke literature searches to suit your evidence needs. Choose from a Quick Search, Comprehensive Search or Systematic Review, and we'll do the rest:

👉 Quick Search gives you 5-10 good quality references to answer a focused question.

👉 Comprehensive Search answers complex clinical questions by gathering relevant references from multiple databases.

👉 Systematic Review identifies all existing evidence for a specific question. This includes advanced searches of MEDLINE and Embase by an information specialist.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/tmmW50SiNy6

Registration for the MRCS Part B OSCE November 2024 exam in Cairo will open via Eventbrite at 9am UK time on Wednesday 19 June.

Please visit Eventbrite to complete registration and provide a deposit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mrcs-part-b-osce-cairo-deposit-registration-912582748567

MRCS Part B OSCE Cairo: Deposit Registration for the MRCS Part B OSCE in Cairo, 2 -11 November 2024.

Only a few days left to register for our MRCS Part B webinar on 20 June📢

✔️Question examiners
✔️Hear from past candidates
✔️Go through the exam structure

Free for members. If you can't make it, register your place to access the recording post-event: https://ow.ly/gXx750ShJvP

Wishing a blessed Eid al-Adha to all of our members, colleagues and friends celebrating.

🚨 Last chance to secure your tickets for our Global Surgical Frontiers (GSF) Conference 2024 🚨

How do you see the future of global surgery evolving? What are the most pressing challenges in your region?

Join us in exploring the future of global surgery with leading experts worldwide. This is your opportunity to connect with peers, share insights and contribute to the global surgery community.

Don’t miss out—register now. Members receive a ticket discount of at least 50%: https://ow.ly/KWkU50Si8lB

“The entire session was amazing, engaging and informative” - attendee feedback

Are you preparing for your MRCS Part B? 📚 Do you have questions for the examiners? Would you like to hear from past candidates and go through exam structure and revision strategies? Then join our upcoming webinar at 6pm on 20 June.

Free for members. Book now: https://ow.ly/BPHh50SaKkk

Can’t make it on the day? Don’t worry. Book your ticket, and you’ll be able to access the recording after the event.

'Political parties are either kidding themselves or the public about the scale of investment the NHS needs'. Writing in The Telegraph our President Tim Mitchell calls on politicians to set out more ambitious NHS funding plans to support reform 👇

Sunak and Starmer accused of ‘deafening silence’ on NHS problems President of Royal College of Surgeons says party leaders favour ‘familiar soundbites’ over hard facts about what they would do