Statement on COVID-19 from Vice President, Professor Rowan Parks

Published: 16 March 2020

Message from Professor Rowan Parks, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons and Acting Medical Director at NES Scotland.

As you will all be aware from the extensive media and social media coverage, we are now starting to experience the impact of COVID-19 on our NHS Healthcare systems. Many of you will already have seen and perhaps participated in the preparation and contingency planning. NHS Education for Scotland (NES), including the Scotland Deanery, have been working extensively over the past few weeks to consider the impact on medical education and training and to mitigate where possible for you as our valued trainees.

These are unprecedented times, however I wish to emphasise that we are working extremely closely with the other Statutory Education Bodies (HEE, HEIW and NIMDTA), the General Medical Council, Medical Royal Colleges, Universities and our NHS Healthcare providers to make the most appropriate decisions in face of this situation, and to ensure patient and trainee safety is not compromised.

Please see below links to letters which were sent out to trainees and colleagues about rotations and the impact on trainees.