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Individuals within a healthcare work system are central to safe, efficient performance. In delivering healthcare these individuals interact with all other elements of the system; performing tasks using different technology and tools, within the working environment and as part of the wider organization. They can influence, and are influenced by, each of these components in the delivery of healthcare processes.
In the context of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh the individuals involved in our health system include surgeons and dentists, other healthcare professionals including paramedics, advanced nursing and dental practitioners, and, of course, patients. To develop a rounded understanding of how these groups interact in a healthcare system we need to consider their knowledge, education, and training; understand their motivation and needs; as well as their physical and psychological characteristics.
Activity and Resources |
Patients, Families and CarersEmpowering patients to engage effectively with health and healthcare requires that they have language and numeracy skills and a degree of understanding about health, disease, and the healthcare system. This is termed ‘healthcare literacy’ and is a central component of government policy to improve population health. Healthcare literacy is promoted through the Heritage & Museums Committee through engagement with our museums - regularly hosting school group activities and holding public and online lectures on healthcare. The museum uses its social media feed to engage the public with healthcare artefacts from its archive and keep them informed of upcoming events. RCSEd is regularly consulted by the Government and other agencies on issues of health promotion. The Patient Safety Group includes three patients in its membership to enable us to take into account the patient and carer perspective on all College activity. The group has also developed a Patient and Carer Resource page to help patients navigate their surgical journey. |
Surgeons/DentistsThe College works to facilitate the development of surgeons and dentists at every stage of their careers in a friendly, collegiate atmosphere. RCSEd inspires future generations through a diverse range of activities. https://www.rcsed.ac.uk/professional-support-development-resources/career-support The College offers careers advice for school pupils through online resources and annual careers fayres, highlighting the attractions of surgical and dental careers. We provide surgical career advice for undergraduate medical and dental students and offer further support through our student affiliate network, which provides access to a range of educational resources, elective grants, together with discounts on courses and events. Senior medical students have the opportunity to participate each year in our National Surgical and Dental Skills Competition. The Future Surgeons: Key Skills Course helps support students to develop safe basic surgical techniques common to all surgical practice. The College also supports vibrant Foundation Trainees Surgical Societies (FTSS-UK), with active groups in each UK medical school. These societies offer a platform for all junior doctors considering a career in surgery at a regional level, with national collaboration across all groups to help facilitate sharing of resources, learning and research. A hugely popular annual FTSS conference is held at the College in Edinburgh each year. Our Trainees’ Committee is dedicated to representing and advocating for trainees both within the College and with relevant external bodies. The Committee is very active, providing a wide range of educational and wellbeing resources, guidance documents, negotiating trainee benefits and engaging with College members and students at outreach events. Our Younger Fellows’ Group provides support to senior trainees and early years consultants, within the first 10 years of surgical practice post Fellowship.. This group encourages all younger surgeons from whatever location and discipline to get involved in College life, feedback on professional issues and to provide a platform to discuss challenges and share successes with new friends and like-minded colleagues. The RCSEd committee for Specialty Doctors, Associate Specialists and Locums (SASLC) represents all SAS Doctors, Dentists, Locums, and those working in other similar grades. The committee works hard to provide career support and development to allow each individual to reach their full potential. For retired surgeons, ongoing fellowship and support is provided through the Senior Fellows Club, which meets regularly with an interesting programme of events. The growing network of Regional and International Surgical Ambassadors provides excellent regional support to all our members and fellows, keeping our community informed of new College initiatives, opportunities to get involved in College life, career support, advice on examinations and information on courses. Our Educational Department offer a wide range of educational material to support surgeons and dentists, as well as members of the wider multi-disciplinary team, at all stages of their careers. An extensive suite of on-line resources include a comprehensive library of webinars, podcasts and blogs. Our award-winning Surgeons News magazine is produced quarterly and provides our multi-disciplinary membership with comment and opinion from leading professionals, together with reviews and reports on subjects relevant to all career levels. The Surgeon, the College’s peer-reviewed academic journal, is produced six times per year and keeps members updated on recent surgical and dental research. The College overs a myriad of training courses to support the evolving needs and interests of surgeons, dentists and allied health professionals at all stages of their careers. These are run regularly at the College in Edinburgh, our centre in Birmingham and at many other UK and international locations. They cover an extensive range of topics and range from didactic teaching, small group workshops, to hands-on skills work in our simulation lab. An extensive and ever expanding range of diverse online resources is also available, covering topics important to our membership, such as flexible working, revalidation, raising concerns, wellbeing, radiation protection, anti-bullying and undermining campaign, Sexual Misconduct - Let's Remove It hub. The RCSEd App, available on the Apple App Store and Google Pay, provides direct, easy access for busy surgeons to many of these resources. The Wade Programme in Surgical Anatomy supports the study of surgical anatomy during surgical training and continued professional development. It has a three tiered approach, consisting of outreach for clinical medical students, MRCS exam preparation and cadaveric specialty training courses. The College has worked in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, to provide the award-winning and highly popular Edinburgh Surgery Online suite of postgraduate e-learning programmes. Theses offer a range of options for surgeons at all stages of their training, helping to guide them through training and onto higher qualifications. There is also an opportunity for financial support for research and development of skills in placements overseas. Through the International Postgraduate Deanery, the College supports International Medical Graduates in their training within the UK, as well as assisting NHS Trust and Health Boards in the development of the international doctor workforce. The Deanery provides comprehensive pastoral care, helps ensure high quality training and acts as sponsor for trainees’ GMC Registration and helps with the visa application process. |
Allied Health ProfessionalsThe College supports members of the wider healthcare team through its Faculties. The Faculty of Dental Surgery promotes excellence in global oral health through education, examination, engagement and support of its membership. The Faculty of Peri-Operative Care supports the ever-increasing number of peri-operative practitioners, including Surgical Care Practitioners and Surgical First Assistants, who play an important part in the teams delivering surgical care. The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care provides support for the broad range of practitioners from first aiders, paramedics, first responders, nurses and doctors who work in this discipline. The Faculty helps to set and maintain clinical standards for all practitioners in this evolving specialty. The Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare defines, reviews and sets standards of competence for both individuals and organizations delivering healthcare in remote and rural environments. The faculty provides support to a diverse global community of healthcare professionals working in a range of austere environments worldwide. The Faculties of Surgical Trainers and Dental Trainers provide much needed support and guidance for trainers in these disciplines. |
WellbeingThe Trainees’ Committee run a wellbeing week every year to help improve surgical team wellbeing and resilience and have also developed an extensive suite of on-line resources in this area. RCSEd has been an active member of the GMC Scotland Advisory Group on the Wellbeing of the Medical Profession. |
Learn more about the other areas of the SEIPS model here.