Surgical trainees in the Independent Sector – Intercollegiate Statement

08 Sep 2020

The Presidents of the four Royal Surgical Colleges in the UK and Ireland have issued the following joint statement following the announcement today by NHSE of an agreement to allow surgeons in training access to independent hospital operating lists:

We are delighted with this announcement of an agreement to allow surgeons in training access to independent hospital operating lists. Our hard-working surgeons of the future will be offered teaching and learning opportunities in the private sector, where some NHS-funded elective surgery will take place due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elective surgery came to a near standstill during the height of the crisis, and is slowly recovering. We hope that all independent providers and Heads of Schools of Surgery will continue to work together to support the next generation of surgeons. We would urge the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to honour this initiative. We hope a similar undertaking for outsourced contracts can be agreed in Ireland.

Professor S Michael Griffin, President, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Professor Neil Mortensen, President, Royal College of Surgeons of England

Professor Jackie Taylor, President, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Professor P Ronan O’Connell, President, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland

Read NHS England’s guidance for trainees on training in the independent sector