Essential and Basic Surgical Skills at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

Introducing a new one-day, hands-on course dedicated to laying the groundwork for a robust surgical practice by focusing on essential skills for surgeons. The accelerated one-day course offers an introduction to core surgical skills while minimising time away from the workplace. Designed to cover components assessed in the MRCS OSCE exam, this course follows a blended learning approach. Basic Surgical Skills is also available as a popular two-day intercollegiate course, designed for trainees anticipating a career in surgery and preparing for basic surgical examinations.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

The course aims to instill safe operating techniques and underscores the importance of precautions for ensuring safe theatre practice. By attending this course, you'll be able to:

• Explain the principles of good theatre etiquette.
• Understand correct surgical equipment handing.
• Demonstrate appropriate gowning and gloving in line with recommended standards of practice.
• Understand the variety of knots and how to tie them reliably.
• Suture a range of tissue types.
• Perform abscess draining and contaminated wound debridement.
• Demonstrate basic techniques for small bowel, vascular and tendon anastomosis.
• Understand a basic diathermic technique.

These skills are crucially tested in the MRCS Part B OSCE Examination, where candidates are evaluated on their clinical and procedural aptitude.

Who Is This Course For?

The Essential Surgical Skills and Basic Surgical Skills courses are aimed at:

• FYs Trainees
• Surgical First Assistant Nurses
• Final Year Medical Students
• Surgeons outside the UK

This training is ideal for junior trainees aiming to acquire fundamental surgical skills before embarking on specialty surgical training.

Course Programme and Structure

Participants will receive online learning materials in advance, followed by a procedural skills course. The comprehensive curriculum includes:

• Knot tying: One-handed reef knot and surgeon’s knot instrument tie and tying at depth.
• Handling instruments: Scissors, haemostats, forceps and scalpel.
• Suturing techniques: Needles and incisions, simple and mattress sutures, and sub-cuticular suture.
• Tissue handling: Bowel end-to-end interrupted anastomosis, abscess drainage, and tendon repair.
• Laparoscopic skills: Dedicated sessions for hands-on training.

Attending the Course

This event is an in-person course. That means you get the chance to join us in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. At the College, you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, as well as lunch prepared by our award-winning chefs. This course offers 12 CPD points for everyone who attends, which can be claimed via your College account. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is conveniently located in Glasgow City Centre, within easy reach of major train stations, motorways and airports.