SPRINGHERALDSRETURN TOA‘NEW’NORMALITY

Despite two new COVID variants in circulation, the healthcare system is rallying, says Roger

Iam writing this after returning from the Council development session in Edinburgh, the first under the presidency of Professor Rowan Parks.

On my trip back, I reflected that this is the seventh President who I have been fortunate enough to support through my various College roles. It was also clear from discussions that our Council is modern, sleek and keen to engage with all related individuals to improve the provision and standards of patient care, not only in the UK, but worldwide –most notably with the exciting new developments in the Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare led by Professor Angus Watson.

As I write this I have just spent the weekend on call for our regional service, and have operated in and completed ward rounds in two hospitals in two different boards. My feeling is that we are getting back to a ‘new’ normality.

As we move into spring there is some evidence that the winter crisis is starting to abate. We are seeing fewer ambulance waits, but still high demand. COVID-19 numbers are fairly static, but thankfully not causing significant mortality. We know two new variants are in circulation and must learn and adapt to work around these ongoing challenges.

Focus on surgical waiting lists is, rightly, very high both with politicians and the public. It has been gratifying to see colleagues rise to challenges with innovations, including high-impact lists, increased day surgery, modified length of stays, maximal prehabilitation, digital pre-op and hospital at home. Using a combination of these in our health board we have managed a 10% increase in surgical flow between

Currie

issues of Surgeons’ News. Again, this effort is not surgical alone and we must acknowledge our anaesthetist colleagues, nurses, surgical care practitioners and all the other healthcare practitioners who support the surgical team.

I hope this edition of Surgeon’s News provides something for everyone. We celebrate International Women’s Day, and feature updates on surgical care practitioners and excellent articles on training, Fellowships and tackling burnout. We also have a sign-off from our longstanding contributor and Past Vice-President, Graham Layer, with a very fitting food column. We thank him for all his efforts and contributions over the years.

Just prior to Christmas, we received word that Surgeons’ News had been selected as Business Publication of the Year at the PPA Scotland Awards. I must congratulate both the in-house team and our colleagues at Think Publishing for all the hard work over the last few years, which has been recognised by peers in the publishing industry.

While recognition is good, this is at heart a magazine by Members and Fellows for Members and Fellows. In these pages we strive to reflect our membership accurately and appropriately, sharing different opinions, ideas and experiences. In order to do so, your feedback is important. Occasionally we get things wrong, and we appreciate feedback from our readership when we do. As editor, I take that responsibility and challenge very seriously and endeavour to edit a magazine suitable for all.

Finally, I wish all our readers a happy and peaceful period as we move in the northern hemisphere from winter to spring and, hopefully, some sunshine.

Roger Currie surgeonsnews@rcsed.ac.uk

The Royal College Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh

EDITOR

EDITOR Roger Currie

DENTAL EDITOR Carole Ann Boyle

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For editorial enquiries contact surgeonsnews@rcsed.ac.uk

04 AGENDA

The latest news from the College, including the NHS memorial unveiling and College election results

08 PRESIDENT WRITES

30 THE PATH TO EQUITY

Four personal experiences to mark International Women’s Day

32 GREEN CHECKS

Find out more about our new sustainable surgery checklist

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Professor Rowan Parks on enhanced training and international links

PUZZLE SOLVER

A useful terminology buster for trainers and trainees alike

INITIATIVES IN INDIA Forum debates the challenges of providing pre-hospital care

36 TRAINEES AND STUDENTS

Championing careers and the dos and dont’s of post-CCT pathways

40 SURGICAL EDUCATION

Alex Philips charts the achievements of a joint training initiative

42 FELLOW TRAVELLERS

Two new Dental Fellows share their route to Fellowship with Carole Boyle

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ISSN 1750-7995

The views expressed in Surgeons’Newsare not necessarily those of the editorial team or the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Information printed in this edition of Surgeons’Newsis believed to be correct at the time of going to press. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh permits single copying of individual articles for private study or research. Multiple copying of individual articles for teaching purposes is permitted without specific permission. For copying or reproduction for any other purpose, written permission must be sought from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Exceptions to the above are those institutions and non-publishing organisations that have an agreement or licence with the UK Copyright Licensing Agency or the US Copyright Clearance Center. Access to the magazine is available on the College website rcsed.ac.uk

Cover: RCSEd

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THE CARE CURRICULUM Colleges join forces to develop SCP curriculum and register

SAFE PASSAGE

Claire Morgan on the development and necessity of the National Patient Safety Syllabus

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NEW FACES

Meet your new Council and Office-Bearers

BRINGING BALANCE

The inaugural conference of the British Association of Black Surgeons

44 POSITIVE CHANGE

Zahra Shehabi on dental practices with a lower carbon footprint

46 BEATING BURNOUT

Combating the impact of burnout on patient safety and staff wellbeing

48 COLLEGE INFORMATION

Awards and grants, diploma ceremony listings and obituaries

56 LIFESTYLE

48 hours in Malta; Graham Layer’s concluding tour; chardonnay revisited; and two inspiring sculptors

Journal Of The Royal Colleges Of Surgeons Of Edinburgh And Ireland