Eur J Anat, 11 (S1): 105-109 (2007)

Supporting modern postgraduate surgical training programmes in the United Kingdom through greater use of cadaveric material

Rainsbury R.M.

Raven Department of Education, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE, United Kingdom; Bridge House, Finches Lane, Twyford, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT A new Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Project (ISCP) has established a new modular framework for postgraduate surgical training. The curriculum has defined the surgical standards that are required before a trainee can progress from module to module. The core conditions within each specialty module have been defined, and the required operative and other skills needed for competent management of these conditions have been agreed. Full implementation of the new ISCP will commence in Autumn 2007. The Raven Department of Education at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE) views implementation as a major opportunity to extend the use of cadaveric material to support the new training programmes. To this end, a Core Specialty Skills Project has been launched to build on the Department's experience of practical skills courses based on cadaveric material, by improving access to appropriate facilities in regional departments of anatomy. The aims of this project are to support each module within the 9 surgical specialties by producing a range of educational materials for participants and faculty, in association with the major specialty stakeholders. Use of cadaveric material, supported by step-by-step dissection guides and integrated assessment, will be a crucial component of this programme. Nine university departments of anatomy have been visited in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to establish the current use of these facilities and the potential for extending their use to provide Surgical Skills courses. Levels of staffing, supply of cadaveric material, current involvement in postgraduate education and the degree of interest in the extended use of services were investigated. Many of these facilities have the capacity to support the ISCP by providing regional access to cadaveric material.

Keywords: cadaver, conference paper, health care access, health care facility, health program, human, medical school, medical staff, postgraduate education, surgical training, United Kingdom