Download the winning poster here

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every surgical trainee in some way whether that be in a professional or personal manner. There have been significant changes to surgical services and the clinical working environment, and many trainees have been redeployed and required to work outside their usual scope of practice.

The joint letter from ASiT and the 15 surgical trainee speciality associations regarding COVID-19 vowed to closely monitor its impact on surgical trainees and their training. During and after the pandemic has settled, real-world data will be a powerful and essential tool to advocate for trainees and influence training during the recovery phase.

So ASiT have collaborated with The Dukes’ Club, BSoT, PLASTA, AOT, Herrick Society, Roux Group, SCTS, BNTA, Mammary Fold, TriPS, BAPS, OMFS FiT and Rouleaux Club to design this survey to measure the impact of the COVID-19 situation on UK surgical training.

The survey is quick and important task to do – please take part!

Complete the survey here

We have supported junior members against the invocation of desirable criteria in ST3 applications for general surgery and having discussions with specialty trainee organisations regarding the impact of COVID-19 on peri-CCT trainees. A statement regarding this will follow shortly.

Should you have some downtime, please consider participating in the ASiT Robotic Surgery and Surgical Training Survey.

The Dukes’ Club advocates for colorectal trainees through ASiT’s seat on various national bodies and committees and we will continue to do so through these uncertain times.

During the course, delegates including medical students, foundation year doctors and core surgical trainees practised basic surgical and laparoscopic skills.

We would like to thank Ethicon, the clinical skills centre and the postgraduate medical centre at Addenbrookes Hospital for their support in running this course.

With 12 months to go until the new curriculum role out in 2020, we recommend trainees familiarise themselves with the new elements via the link on the ISCP homepage.

Improving Surgical Training is now in its 2nd year. With aims including improving the balance between training and service provision, we’re keeping a close eye on feedback from current trainees and considering its impact on uncoupled trainees.

Abstract submissions for the ASiT Conference 2020 are now OPEN. Don’t forget to submit by 24th November for a chance to win the Dukes’ prize.

Coming soon – the ASiT Trauma Survey, looking to assess variation in trauma surgery training in the UK.