The challenges faced by the surgical profession as a whole and those faced by its trainees have become more entwined, but, writes Ian Ritchie, the College is resolute in its support for training during turbulent times
It is a truism to say that trainees are the lifeblood of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Undoubtedly if the College is to survive for another 500 years then a supply of trainees who wish to affiliate to this College and who understand and support the principles that it stands for is vitally important. In recognising this, the College is intensely interested in trainees and wishes to support and encourage them to engage with the College in a useful and productive way. The Council of the College recognises that in the trainees who engage with the College lie the future Presidents, Vice Presidents and Council Members of this College, so it is in our interests to ensure that trainees are engaged with us. But it is also important to remember that, aside from those who are interested in the affairs of the College, there is also a large number of trainees who will not be members of council or office bearers of the College, but who will be working surgeons, contributing to the advancement of surgical practice and knowledge in their daily work. This College is also interested in supporting them.
‘The Regional Surgical Advisers network across the UK has been put in place in part to support our trainees but also to help surgeon-trainers to deal with the changes inherent in the new training pathways’The changes that have happened in the last few years represent an enormous challenge to practising surgeons as well as to trainees. In some respects the European Working Time Regulation and the changes in MMC represent a greater challenge to established surgeons because they have to change the way they have practiced over many years. For trainees it may be less difficult because they do not have a background that is so deeply embedded in the way things are done and therefore may find it easier to adapt to different ways of working. Without doubt however the changes are having an impact on training which affects both trainers and trainees. This College has a deep interest in these matters as can be seen by the College statement on the European Working Time Regulations and their effect on training and our support for Sir John Temple’s report. At the political level these are the ways in which the College is demonstrating that it is interested in training and is trying to support trainees through these difficult times. In other ways the College provides a portfolio of courses and educational events and also supports trainees through the process of examinations. It is widely recognised that The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh provides at the very least a friendly face when dealing with examination candidates across the world.
While we in the College do aspire to support trainees at all levels of their training we also recognise that this College has to work in partnership with other organisations which include our sister Colleges, the deaneries and schools of surgery. The Regional Surgical Advisers network across the UK has been put in place in part to support our trainees but also to help surgeon-trainers to deal with the changes inherent in the new training pathways.
The principles which have guided this College since its inception remain true today, that what ever the political environment or latest educational fashion, we stand to maintain and develop surgical standards.
Ian Ritchie,Vice President
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