Description
The recorded presentation features Deepa Bose discussing updates related to the Surgery Advisory Committee (SAC). She expresses her gratitude to attendees at the beginning, while revealing her anxiety about the presentation. The focus centers on the challenges faced by trainers and trainees, particularly concerning operative numbers and the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training.
Deepa presents logbook analysis from 2019 to January 2022, illustrating a significant decline (24%) in elective operative numbers post-COVID, alongside missed surgical training opportunities. While trauma numbers appear to be recovering, elective surgical numbers do not show similar improvement. She highlights various factors contributing to this issue, including reduced operating sessions and staffing shortages. Regions show variation in surgical recovery, particularly with knee replacements highlighted as an elective bellwether.
Throughout the presentation, she discusses recommendations for training sessions and emphasizes the need for ongoing engagement between trainees and consultant colleagues. There is a significant focus on future projects, such as exploring differential attainment and logbook data analysis, given ongoing challenges with trainee outcomes and pay progression during the ST6 level.
Deepa mentions the upcoming changes to the CESR pathway, assuring that standards will remain intact, clarifying misconceptions about it being an easier route compared to traditional training. She encourages trainees to engage with their liaison members to foster good communication and support. Throughout her talk, she aims to address trainee concerns about exams, neurodiversity adjustments, and the overall current state of surgical education with transparency and reassurances.