Basic Surgical Skills

This Royal College of Surgeons’ approved course has been designed to introduce surgical trainees to safe surgical practice within a controlled workshop environment. It aims to teach, assess and certify the ability of trainees to use safe and sound surgical techniques which are common to all forms of surgery.

The course covers three main areas:

- Open Surgery

- Electrosurgery

- Endoscopic Surgery

Key Benefits:

The Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) Course is strongly recommended for all surgical trainees who take up their first surgical appointment, and is open to foundation doctors intending a surgical or surgically related career. The course has been agreed on an intercollegiate basis, and trainees who complete the course will be issued with certification which will be reciprocally recognised by all four Royal Surgical Colleges.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, participants will:

- Understand and practice safe operating techniques, gowning & gloving.

- Understand and practice the correct techniques for laying safe surgical knots.

- Understand the characteristics and handling of surgical instruments.

- Understand that careful and sound aspects of technique are more important than simple manual dexterity or speed.

- Understand the principles of handling tissues and recognise differing requirements for differing sites (e.g. skin, bowel, abdominal wall, vessels and tendons).

- Understand and practice local anaesthetic techniques.

- Understand the principles of assessment and primary surgical management of infected and contaminated soft tissues.

- Understand the principles between open and endoscopic surgery including the manipulation of instruments in a three-dimensional surgical environment while viewing a remote two-dimensional image.

- Practice visuo-spatial awareness involved in depth cueing and the “fulcrum” effect of instrument manipulation.

Important Note for Candidates: There is limited availability for Advanced Practitioners, or for those who work as part of an extended surgical team. If you fall into this category, please contact Mandy Sedler, Course Administrator (contact details below) prior to booking. Thank you.

- Short introductory presentations for each topic including step-by-step demonstrations (DVD or live) with an emphasis on the “4 stage” technique of teaching a practical skill.

- Small group work stations to focus on basic skills and techniques.

- Hands-on practice with review sessions to consolidate skills.

- Continuous formative feedback and close work with faculty.

- Course Handbook

- Certificate of completion (if successful)

- Lunch & Refreshments

- “Excellent (and patient!) tutors. Resources great. Will recommend”

- “Thoroughly enjoyed the course. The facilitators were amazing - patient and methodical. Would go back for further courses”

- “Excellent course, wide range of surgeons from different specialties to give feedback, felt able to say if I was struggling with something without feeling embarrassed about it and was able to get reassurance or be shown the right way to do something if I was unsure about my technique”.

Require Accommodation?

Please note that hospital accommodation is no longer available

Please visit www.visitleeds.co.uk for accommodation listings. The two nearest hotels are located in the Waterfront area and area a 5 - 10 minute drive from the hospital depending on traffic; they are:

- Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre Armouries, Armouries Drive, Clarence Dock, Leeds LS10 1LE. www.hiexleeds.co.uk

- Ibis Budget, 2 The Gateway North, Crown Point, Leeds LS9 8BZ. Please note, as the name suggests, the Ibis Budget offers low-cost, no frills accommodation. www.accor.com

In the event that you need to cancel your place on this course, the following terms and conditions apply:

- If you have notified us at least 30 days prior to the commencement date of the course, your course fees will be returned minus a £50 admin. fee. If you have received any pre-course materials, these must be returned prior to any refund.

- Cancellation of your place within 30 days will result in a loss of the course fee.

Tel. 0113 2064886, email: mandy.sedler@nhs.net