GET INVOLVED

We have undertaken an audit of all our activities to ensure that there are no barriers to SAS surgeons taking part in College life and that the involvement of SAS surgeons is actively encouraged.

We have already made several changes to the way we work to make the College more of a professional home for SAS surgeons.

We have:

• Reviewed all the job descriptions for College roles to ensure that we appoint based on knowledge, skills and experience rather than grade or title. As a result, SAS surgeons can now apply for our regional and devolved nation director posts.
• Amended our eligibility criteria for pump-priming grants to enable SAS surgeons to apply.
  Actively promoted opportunities, including faculty and programme director roles and the Emerging Leaders programme to SAS surgeons.
• Begun the process of recruiting and training AAC assessors to sit on panels for senior-grade SAS appointments. The first five SAS AAC assessors are now trained.
• Supported the development and promotion of new guidance on induction for International Medical Graduates.
• Provided better support to SAS surgeons undertaking CESR, including working with JCST and the GMC to produce a suite of guidance and developing a series of webinars.
• Established a Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) SAS Committee and opened up FDS roles to SAS surgeons.
• Agreed that there will be SAS representation on JSCM, JCIE and JCST

The next steps include:

• Discussing with intercollegiate partners the role of SAS surgeons as examiners.
• Promoting the new opportunities available to SAS surgeons, developing tailored online content and signposting resources.
• Creating a network of SAS representatives as part of our governance structure.

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Welcoming-and-Valuing-International-Medical-Graduates-A-guide-to-induction-for-IMGs-WEB.pdf

https://www.jcst.org/cesr/

https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/specialty-specific-guidance-for-cesr-and-cegpr

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/get-involved/

SAS Forum

Faculty of Dental Surgery SAS Education Committee

Intercollegiate Surgical Education Committee for SAS, LES and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (ISECSN)

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges SAS committee

Surgery is a diverse field, and there are 24 professional surgical specialty associations and expert groups that represent the interests and set standards for the surgical specialties.

RCS England’s SAS strategy commits to encouraging surgical specialty associations to review how they engage with SAS doctors relevant to their specialty. Some associations have already made strides in doing this; one example is the Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland.

The Vascular Society has recognised the “invaluable contribution that doctors working in SAS roles provide within the vascular multi-disciplinary team.” This includes clinical fellows, associate colleagues (such as interventional radiologists, anaesthetists and care of the elderly physicians) and SAS colleagues who work as vascular surgeons. The Vascular Society has said that in most vascular units, the service would not be sustainable without the hard work and commitment of SAS doctors. The training, recognition and wellbeing of these doctors are part of the remit of its workforce and education committees.

Two SAS/locally employed (LE) doctors sit on the Vascular Society’s Elected Council “to ensure that the needs of this group are considered in Council decision making.” One of these doctors is Ibrahim Enemosah, Senior Vascular Fellow at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Find out more about the surgical specialty associations

Want to get involved in the work of the College but unsure how? Contact us at diversity@rcseng.ac.uk.