In September 2010, a senior College delegation and examining team flew to Hong Kong for a visit which has strengthened links with the region, writes Ian Ritchie
The opening of the Conjoint Diploma Ceremony on 25 September 2010
The College’s visits to Hong Kong are always important events. The examinations and joint meeting with the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong (CSHK) in September were one of the highlights of the College’s calendar in 2010. The importance of the meetings cannot be underestimated, particularly because the relationship between our College and the CSHK is so cordial.
"These developments represent the beginning of a systematic approach to surgical training in China which will result in international recognition of the standard of training being achieved by Chinese surgeons"
On this occasion, the Hong Kong College was celebrating its twentieth anniversary; a mark of their firm establishment in the international surgical field. The international importance of this event was signified by the presence of College Presidents from Australasia, Thailand and Malaysia, amongst others There was also a strong representation from surgical institutions in mainland China, indicating the esteem in which the CSHK is held by these Chinese institutions. The importance of the connection between the RCSEd, the CSHK and China was demonstrated by the accreditation ceremonies which were attended the presidents of the RCSEd and CSHK in Shang Hai and Guangzhou, where the Rui Jin Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University respectively, were formally accredited as training institutions.
The accreditations will allow trainees from these institutions to sit the bi-collegiate fellowship in Hong Kong. They are a recognition of the standard of training provided by these institutions and will allow wider international recognition of that training by virtue of the award of a bi-collegiate fellowship to those who are successful in the examinations.
In parallel with these visits, there were inspection visits of the Peking University Medical Hospital and the Peking University Peoples’ Hospital in Beijing, which acknowledged that the standard of training has been enhanced. This allowed an increase in the number of trainees who will be eligible to sit the bi-collegiate exams.
The re-inspections also included Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, an orthopaedic institution, and trainees there were recognised for basic surgical training in the generality of surgery as well as specialty orthopaedic training.
These developments represent the beginning of a systematic approach to surgical training in China which will result in international recognition of the standard of training being achieved by Chinese surgeons.
At the same time as these visits were being arranged, the College examiners were busily engaged in both the basic surgical training exams and the specialty bi-collegiate exams in general surgery and urology. We also delivered a one-day Training the Trainers seminar.
It is clear from this programme of activities that the organisation and delivery of examinations, inspections, courses, and an international surgical meeting – all within a two-week visit – represents a major logistical challenge that was smoothly negotiated and delivered by the staff of the RCSEd and CSHK.
All these activities are the result of a long and fruitful history between our two colleges, which was acknowledged by the outgoing President of the CSHK, Professor CK Leung, who referred to the atmosphere of brotherhood between the two colleges. No surgeon who visits Hong Kong as part of an RCSEd team can be in any doubt about the warmth and affection in which the College is held by our colleagues in Hong Kong. There is no doubt that it is reciprocated.
Ian Ritchie, Vice President
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