About
The HEE KSS training programme in Core Surgery is a two year programme, leading to achievement of Core Competencies (Outcome 6 at ARCP), allowing trainees to apply for an ST3 programme in their chosen surgical specialty for the majority of trainees
Where do trainees train?
There are many fantastic training opportunities within the region which are based in:
Kent
– William Harvey Hospital, Ashford – East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust
– Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother Hospital, Margate – East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust
– Medway Maritime Hospital, Medway – Medway NHS Foundation Trust
– Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford – Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
Surrey
– Ashford Hospital, Surrey – Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
– St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey – Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
– Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley – Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (Military Personnel)
– Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford – Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
– East Surrey Hospital, Redhill – Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Sussex
– Conquest Hospital, St. Leonards-on-Sea – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
– Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
– Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton – Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
– Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead – Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Regional Plastic Surgery Unit)
– Worthing Hospital, Worthing – Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
– St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester – Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
To find out more about each training location, please visit the Local Education Provider webpage.
Rotations in Core Surgical Training
Selection into Core Surgical Training is made via the National Specialty Recruitment process, where trainees will be ranked against their peers and be able to make preference from all Core Surgery rotations available.
If trainees select a Core Surgery Programme KSS, they will have the choice of a themed two year programme (for example; CT1 T&O for six months and General Surgery for six months with a year of T&O at CT2) or a generic first year with a ranking system into the second year of their preference (for example; during CT1 four months in General Surgery, T&O and Urology, trainees will then choose at CT2 year in General Surgery, T&O or Urology and rank for their preferred post or the General Surgery IST Pilot or Otolaryngology Pilot
During the first year CT1 and ST1 trainees will undertake either a three or four months posts or two six month posts.
In CT2 / ST2 the majority of posts are a year in one specialty, for example General Surgery, but there are a small number of rotations with six months in a chosen specialty and six months in Plastic Surgery at the Regional Plastic Surgery Unit at East Grinstead, for example; Otolaryngology for six months and then Plastic surgery for six months.
KSS also offer Paediatric Surgery placements in both CT1 and CT2 for a small number of trainees. The rotations have been designed to allow trainees to gain a broad range of surgical experience and gain core competencies.
Core Surgical Training and the Core Curriculum
All Core Surgical trainees recruited onto the core curriculum are expected to have a good knowledge of the topics required of them. It will be the trainees responsibility to ensure the educational supervisor is aware of which curriculum they are on as well as aware of the topics they are required to complete.
It is the responsibility of the trainee to drive their own training and ensure their portfolio reflects the correct topics suitable for the curriculum they are on. When trainees upload a workplace based assessment, they should select one of the topics from their learning agreement to match it to.
If trainees choose an additional topic at this stage, that topic will be added automatically to your Learning Agreement and you may face difficulties at the ARCP as a result.
To view the curriculum visit the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme website.
Teaching and Learning
Induction
Induction is held in early August for all trainees prior to their commencement on the core surgery training scheme. The day is structured to equip trainees for the transition from Foundation to core training. In 2020 the Induction will be virtual.
MRCS exam
Trainees will be supported to prepare for and pass the MRCS Part A and Part B exams wherever they are working. Trainees are encouraged to sit the exams early in their core training, as they need the exam to achieve core competencies and be eligible for ST3 entry in their chosen specialty.
Regional Teaching
In previous years the School has run a number of training days to include Speciality Specific Training, Simulation scenarios with Sim Man, Technical skills sessions, MRCS Part A and Part B course and Leadership Training Days.
Currently regional teaching is virtual and across the region, including a successful Virtual Leadership Day in June.
The Core Surgical Training Committee (STC)
The Core STC is composed of Surgical College Tutors from each Trust, The Head of School, LETB administrative staff, the Two Training Programme Directors, a Surgical Advisory Committee Liaison member, two CT1 and two CT2 trainee representatives. The committee meets three times a year and we feel this is a responsive committee and feedback from trainees is encouraged. In the past, this has led to various changes, which we think has improved the standard of training.
The Core Surgery Speciality Advisory Committee
The Core Surgery SAC is composed of Surgical College Tutors from each Trust, The Head of School, LETB administrative staff, the Two Training Programme Directors, a Surgical Advisory Committee Liaison member, two CT1 and two CT2 trainee representatives. The committee meets three times a year and we feel this is a responsive committee and feedback from trainees is encouraged. In the past, this has led to various changes, which we think has improved the standard of training.