Acquiring surgical skills: the role of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Contemporary surgeons are expected to develop and maintain competence across a range of skills far broader than that demanded of last century's surgeons. This is increasingly difficult to achieve in a competitive clinical environment in which the effectiveness of the traditional apprenticeship model can be compromised. New training paradigms must be found to ensure that the quality of surgical training is maintained and enhanced. Acquiring technical skills in the operating theatre is expensive, but training using simulations in the skills laboratory is gaining credibility and validity as a means to augment the clinical experience and accelerate training. The emerging role of surgical skills courses extends to training in behaviour and attitude. At the same time, there is a rapidly growing demand for training courses in technical surgical skills, particularly from prevocational trainees aspiring to enter surgical training. This group has been neglected by the new Surgical Education and Training programme, and re-engagement with them is now a priority. Most skills courses rely on surgeons willing to teach pro bono, and paying tutors would impose a significant additional cost on surgical training. However, recruiting enough fellows to meet the demand for tutors remains a challenge. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is actively engaged in supporting and developing skills training courses and programmes to address the range of skills required for surgical competence.