1. Trainees Specialty Advisory Board Update on Progress and Function Conor Marron Chairman, RCSEd Trainees Specialty Advisory Board

2. Aims Update on TSAB Membership & Links with other SABs Sample Agenda and Discussions Review of Function and Role Concerns of TSAB Role Suggestions for Development Issues for consideration

3. TSAB Membership Mr C Marron (2010) Dr S Adams (2008) Mr R Anderson (2008) Miss A Bain (2008) Ms C Bates (2008) Miss W Craig (2008) Mr K R Ghani (2008) Mr E Harrison (2008) Ms J Richards (2009) Mr R Skipworth (2009) Mr G D Stewart (2008) Mr J Sultan (2009) Mr R V Venkateswaran (2008) Mr P Walmsley (2008) Mr J D Orr (President RCSEd) Mr D A Tolley (Treasurer, RCSEd) Mr C McKiernan (ex officio SAB in A&E) Mr D West (ex officio SAB in Cardiothoracic) Mr Richard Adamson (ex officio SAB in Otolaryngology) Mr Rory Rickard (ex officio SAB in Plastic) Mr J Morrison (ex officio SAB in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) Mr D McGill (ex officio SAB in Plastic Surgery) Mr P Driscoll (ex officio SAB in General Surgery) Mr

4. TSAB Membership Mr C Marron (2010) Dr S Adams (2008) Mr R Anderson (2008) Miss A Bain (2008) Ms C Bates (2008) Miss W Craig (2008) Mr K R Ghani (2008) Mr E Harrison (2008) Ms J Richards (2009) Mr R Skipworth (2009) Mr G D Stewart (2008) Mr J Sultan (2009) Mr R V Venkateswaran (2008) Mr P Walmsley (2008) Mr J D Orr (President RCSEd) Mr D A Tolley (Treasurer, RCSEd) Mr C McKiernan (ex officio SAB in A&E) Mr D West (ex officio SAB in Cardiothoracic) Mr Richard Adamson (ex officio SAB in Otolaryngology) Mr Rory Rickard (ex officio SAB in Plastic) Mr J Morrison (ex officio SAB in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) Mr D McGill (ex officio SAB in Plastic Surgery) Mr P Driscoll (ex officio SAB in General Surgery)

5. Links with other SABs Ex-Officio Appointments Uptake variable Attendance generally poor (few exceptions) Add to membership

6. Sample Agenda – April ’08 Minutes of Meeting held on 24 August 2007 Future Role of TSAB Update on review of structure of SABs: Letter from Vice Presidents Membership of TSAB Role of the Academy Trainees Group: Draft Document on the ATG Current TSAB Constitution Discussion Document RCSEd Sports Society Structure of Core Surgical Training Review of Medical Workforce in Scotland MRCS – Update and Developments MMC & Tooke Response EWTD (Verbal Report) ESSQ Update

7. Review of Role ‘Navel Gazing’ Not Representative of Trainees – Not elected No mechanism of canvassing Opinion No mechanism of informing outwardly No ability to act independently

8. Review of Role The Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh will expect the Trainees SAB to inform Council about relevant education, training and examination considerations, to take a proactive role preparing discussion documents for Council and liase with the editors of the College Journal and Surgeons News. Education To generate suggestions for colloquia and symposia this may include making use of the College videoconferencing facilities. To suggest speakers for Eponymous and other guest lecturers. To advise on the use of major endowment and research funds for educational purposes. To assist in the preparation of educational material for the College website and other publications. External Affairs To initiate and participate in discussions on matters relating to training in Scotland and the United Kingdom, including the preparation of proactive discussion papers and advising Council. To advise on documents submitted to Council that are directly relevant to the training grades. To advise and assist in the development of quality assurance and professional standards in hospital inspection procedures.

9. Review of Role Collegiate MRCS Holders June 2007: Scotland354 England2556 Northern Ireland142 Wales160 Rest of World1368

10. Review of Role Representation on: Collegiate Committees – Exams & Standards Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Trainee Group Scottish Surgical Transition Board Representatives to/from ASiT, BOTA and BMA Links with RCPSGlas

11. Review of Role Need to be more Proactive Need to encourage more specialty and regional cooperation and collegiate involvement Need to improve trainee involvement in Collegiate activities (breed a culture of collegiality) Need to suggest mechanisms of improving trainee engagement to Council Perhaps focus should not be medico-political?

12. Academy Trainee Doctor Group Reviewing role and stating its function - ‘Who we are’ paper Most other Collegiate trainee groups have same concerns Meetings 4 times per year – London Disparate and poorly attended Concern over the role & power of this group

13. Concerns of TSAB Role Not sure of our role/position within the College Fluid membership and variable uptake & linkage with other SABs Ability to engage collegiate trainee membership Trainee related events occur in the college with limited/no involvement of the TSAB (Eg symposium in December)

14. Suggestions for Development Ability to e-mail trainee members through Collegiate Support Election of TSAB representatives by collegiate members? RCSEd Sports Society and associated Symposia Audiovisual and webcasting support Use of College facilities Improved involvement of TSAB members in Collegiate events/teaching/courses/symposia Regional trainee meetings with support from College Officers

15. Sports Society Originated out of Annual Intercollegiate Rugby Need to generate funds to sustain teams Valuable linkage with Medical School and for members Expansion of role Industry sponsored symposia to be available to members

16. Issues for consideration Intercollegiate MRCS Structure of new examination Implications for times of assessment Overview for TSAB and general distribution to Trainees EWTD Implications for Training with full implementation in 2009 Strategies to achieve compliance Post-CCT Fellowships Existence English only-NTN holders Diplomas

17. Issues for consideration ‘Sub-Consultant’ Grades Acknowledge that the numbers are very difficult Yet to see value in creation of another grade Post-CCT Progression needs defined How is service to be delivered? Public debate on Service delivery and by whom Possible need to re-define consultant careers Progression is integral to any renegotiation of grades Address issue of imbalance in numbers Contraction of training numbers Medical School Output

18. Conclusion Membership attendance variable but opportunity to rationalise and change Role is somewhat uncertain and caught between various groups and roles Need for more proactivity Support sought from Council for this role