RCSEd actively engages with our Members and Fellows to understand their priorities and shape RCSEd policy positions. We collaborate with a broad spectrum of policymakers and stakeholders across the UK, including the governments of the UK, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Parliamentarians, NHSE, Statutory Educational Bodies, medical and healthcare regulators, other Royal Colleges, and medical bodies. This extensive engagement helps us raise the College’s visibility and influence while advocating on key issues important to surgeons, dental surgeons, and perioperative staff at all career stages.
We prioritise the welfare of our Members and Fellows, promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within surgery and dentistry, addressing the backlog of surgical cases, and protecting the training pipeline. These efforts have led to several notable RCSEd campaigns, such as #letsremoveit, which was nominated for HSJ and BMJ awards. Additionally, we have formed productive collaborations with other healthcare organisations on workforce planning and successfully lobbied government departments and Ministers.
Policy Engagement
The Policy and Public Affairs team liaise closely with our membership to inform RCSEd’s policy positions.
We consult with several groups within the College including but not limited to:
RCSEd’s Trainees' Committee
The Trainees’ Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is dedicated to representing and advocating for trainees. It ensures that trainee perspectives are considered in all College activities.
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Younger Fellows Group
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Younger Fellows’ Group was set up in 2015 by Ms Clare McNaught to build a network of younger consultants and senior trainees.
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Regional Ambassador Network
The Regional Ambassador Network is spread throughout England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The RSAs are accessible to all Fellows and Members, as well as Student, Foundation and pre-MRCS Affiliates for support and advice.
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Engaging our membership is vital to inform our policy work. If you would like to discuss our policy and public affairs work further please contact Chris Sanderson at: c.sanderson@rcsed.ac.uk