Improving Core Surgical Training in Plastic Surgery

Since the introduction of the European Working Time Regulations (EWTR) and Modernising Medical Careers (MMC), concerns have been raised regarding the quality of early surgical training. Recurring issues include the lack of time spent in the operating theatre and outpatient clinic with increased time spent on service provision. As a means of restoring the quality of early surgical training, the Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) has devised a set of SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-framed) standards to be met by core surgical trainees (CSTs). These include the following scheduled weekly activities: four half-day sessions (18 hours) supervised in the operating theatre, one half-day session (4.5 hours) in supervised outpatient clinics and two hours of structured teaching.