Legacy of COVID-19 - the opportunity to enhance surgical services for patients with colorectal disease.

Abstract

After wide consultation with trainees, trainers, employers and other stakeholders, the new General Surgical Curriculum was approved earlier this year and will be implemented from 4 August 2021. It will be outcome based and will be the biggest change in surgical training since 2007. Trainees can progress at their own rate and complete when they have acquired the capabilities of a Day-1 consultant in general surgery with a special interest. The Multiple Consultant Report (MCR) is new and has been developed as the main assessment tool for this outcomes-based curriculum. Assessment in the MCR will be on progress from the ability to only observe at the start of training, to performance at the level of Day-1 consultant in the complex, integrated skills needed for the day-to-day performance of the role in each of the areas of the job (the Capabilities in Practice). The MCR and trainee self assessment will improve feedback and allow specific and bespoke agreed learning objectives to be more easily developed and delivered, and faster but safe training for many. New training pathways have been developed, emphasizing the commonality of emergency general surgery, but also developing special interests reflecting the needs of patients and the service.