The JCST, with the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), the British Orthopaedic Trainees’ Association (BOTA), the Confederation of Postgraduate Schools of Surgery (CoPSS) and the surgical Lead Deans, published a document on maximising training opportunities during the pandemic and in the months to come.
Data indicates that trainees are not being exposed to as many training opportunities in theatre or elsewhere as before with some specialties being more affected than others. Logbook numbers are down by 50% and over 1/5th of trainees in specialty training have been awarded ARCP outcomes 10. The ongoing effect of the pandemic may result in an increasing number of extensions to training, with a consequent decline in the number of trainees completing training which may/will contribute to widening gaps in the consultant workforce over the next 1 to 2 years.
The document aims to raise this issue and give trainers, trainees and those involved in the delivery of surgical training suggestions on how to make the most of each training opportunity.
Read the full document here.