Description
In this presentation, Hannah James, an ST6 trainee on the Warwick rotation, addresses the significant surgical training gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She details data illustrating how the pandemic has resulted in an average loss of 375 surgical cases per trainee, effectively equating to a full training year. Despite entering a recovery phase, the surgical training rates are still below baseline, highlighting the urgency to address this issue.
Hannah outlines a multifaceted training recovery strategy proposed by HEE, emphasizing the importance of simulation in surgical training. She presents evidence showing that cadaveric simulation improves surgical outcomes, including better implant positioning and reduced need for blood transfusions following surgeries.
To combat the training gap, Hannah describes a novel, resource-efficient cadaveric simulation course developed at their teaching hospital in Coventry. With funding from HEE, they ran a catch-up course that enabled 26 trainees across multiple specialties to perform 70 surgical procedures on cadaveric specimens, resulting in notable skill improvements as measured by the PBA global rating scale.
Hannah emphasizes the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of their training model, which salvages leftover cadaveric specimens from commercial courses that would otherwise be wasted. The approach fosters flexibility in training, with sessions organized informally via WhatsApp, allowing for greater accessibility among trainees.
She shares examples of successful training sessions utilizing salvaged specimens and explains the potential to replicate this model across other institutions in the UK, thereby enhancing access to training even in geographic areas lacking local cadaveric labs.
Ultimately, Hannah concludes that this model not only helps close the training gap left by the pandemic but is also environmentally friendly and financially sustainable, enabling effective surgical training in a time of high demand and limited resources.