This is the third episode in an ongoing series on the theme of Health Inequalities, developed in collaboration with Melanin Medics, a national UK charity organisation focusing on promoting diversity in medicine, widening aspirations and aiding career progression for the Afro-Caribbean community. Continuing the discussion on protected characteristics in relation to patient care, this episode will focus on the barriers faced by gender diverse patients in accessing care. Presented by William Adeboye, academia officer for Melanin Medics, and Dr. Alison Berner, medical oncology specialist trainee and specialty doctor at the Gender Identity Clinic in London, this episode considers what health professionals can do to better understand and treat their gender diverse patients. 

In this episode, we present a panel discussion on the nature of “human factors” in surgery, presented by Peter Brennan, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Louise Cousins, trainee general surgeon, Neil Tayler, British Airways pilot and trainer, and Graham Shaw, also a British Airways pilot and Director of Critical Factors, a consulting and training service for professionals operating in safety-critical environments. This discussion will focus on the main concepts in human factors training, and how these can be applied to surgery to create stronger surgical teams and improve patient safety.

For more information on Critical Factors, please visit www.criticalfactors.org

This is the second episode in an ongoing series on the theme of Health Inequalities, which we will return to throughout the year. It has been developed in collaboration with Melanin Medics, a national UK charity organisation focusing on promoting diversity in medicine, widening aspirations and aiding career progression for the Afro-Caribbean community. Throughout the course of the series, we will explore current inequalities in both patient and professional outcomes and illustrate the steps that must be taken to ensure equality and fairness for all.

This episode will discuss institutional racism within healthcare, and the impact of racism on decision-making and patient care. Presented by Jade Okene, founding member of Melanin Medics and Mr. Michael Okocha, a general surgical trainee and Diversity Officer for the Association of Surgeons in Training, this episode considers what can be done to mitigate the impact of racism within healthcare in order to foster a more inclusive environment for patients.

See below for links to some of the resources referenced in this episode:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28249596/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28532892/

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library-and-publications/rcs-publications/docs/avoiding-unconscious-bias/

This week, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, we present a panel discussion on the changing face of the surgical profession. Presented by Anthea Davy, consultant orthopaedic and hand surgeon, Stella Vig, consultant vascular surgeon, and Victoria Pegna, ST7 in colorectal, this episode looks to challenge the words and personality traits associated with surgeons and present a new take on what it means to be a surgeon today.

This is the first episode in an ongoing series on the theme of Health Inequalities, which we will return to throughout the year. It has been developed in collaboration with Melanin Medics, a national UK charity organisation focusing on promoting diversity in medicine, widening aspirations and aiding career progression for the Afro-Caribbean community. Throughout the course of the series, we will explore current inequalities in both patient and professional outcomes and illustrate the steps that must be taken to ensure equality and fairness for all.

In this first episode, we begin with an introduction to health inequalities and why there is an urgent demand for things to change. Presented by Jade Okene, founding member of Melanin Medics and Dr Enam Haque, a GP and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester, this episode will discuss the current reality of prevalent systemic bias embedded within the surgical workforce and college, as well as the wider health system at large. It will also detail historic trends of the past and the need for these to be eliminated within the foreseeable future.

Views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal College of Surgeons. Please see the links below for some of the resources and links mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.melaninmedics.com/

http://dimah.we.bs/

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph46

https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m438

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27044069/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30803548/

Following from the previous two episodes on failing intelligently, we will continue along a similar path this week with a discussion of the themes and ideas behind the recent Supporting Surgeons After Adverse Events guidance produced by RCS England in collaboration with Bournemouth University’s Surgeon Wellbeing Research Team. This podcast is presented by Kevin Turner consultant urologist in Bournemouth and chair of the surgical adverse events first aid response working group which produced the guidance in conversation with Jo Cresswell, consultant urologist in Middlesbrough.

For the full guidance on Supporting Surgeons After Adverse Events, please see the link below:

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/standards-and-guidance/good-practice-guides/supporting-surgeons-after-adverse-events/

This is the second episode of a two-part podcast on the theme of Failing Intelligently, presented by Caris Grimes, Colorectal and General Surgeon and Ginny Bowbrick, Vascular Surgeon, both at Medway Hospital in Kent. In the first episode, Caris and Ginny discussed resilience in the face of adverse outcomes, as well as the difference between failing well and failing badly. This second episode will centre on specific case studies, as Caris and Ginny share some of their personal experiences.

As discussed in the podcast, we would be extremely grateful if you could spend a few minutes filling in the below questionnaire. The aim is to explore mindset, safety culture and errors, with a view to seeing how we can improve patient safety.

https://tinyurl.com/yygjzqe6

For further information on how you can get involved with RCS England's Leadership Professional Passport programme, led by Ginny Bowbrick, please see the links below:

https://tinyurl.com/yxctmmrk

https://tinyurl.com/y4fvlznk

This is the first episode of a two-part podcast on the theme of Failing Intelligently, presented by Caris Grimes, Colorectal and General Surgeon and Ginny Bowbrick, Vascular Surgeon, both at Medway Hospital in Kent. In this episode, Caris and Ginny will discuss resilience in the face of adverse outcomes, as well as the difference between failing well and failing badly. The second episode will centre on specific case studies, as Caris and Ginny share some of their personal experiences.

As discussed in the podcast, we would be extremely grateful if you could spend a few minutes filling in the below questionnaire. The aim is to explore mindset, safety culture and errors, with a view to seeing how we can improve patient safety. 

https://tinyurl.com/yygjzqe6

For further information on how you can get involved with RCS England's Leadership Professional Passport programme, led by Ginny Bowbrick, please see the links below:

https://tinyurl.com/yxctmmrk

https://tinyurl.com/y4fvlznk

This is the second and final episode of a two-part podcast focusing on surgical supervision during Covid-19 and beyond, presented by Dan Beral, colorectal surgeon and clinical lead of the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Excellence in Surgical Supervision (ESS) course, and Nicolas Mitchell, RCS Educator. In this episode, Dan and Nic discuss the future of surgical supervision and look ahead to the implementation of a new curriculum in 2021.

'The Theatre' is taking a break for the holidays, but will return with new episodes starting 7 January.

For the JCST paper referred to in this episode and more information on the Excellence in Surgical Supervision (ESS) course, please see the below links:

https://www.jcst.org/jcst-news/2020/11/10/news-item/

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education-and-exams/courses/search/excellence-in-surgical-supervision-ess/

Welcome to the first of a two-part podcast focusing on surgical supervision during Covid-19 and beyond, presented by Dan Beral, colorectal surgeon and clinical lead of the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Excellence in Surgical Supervision (ESS) course, and Nicolas Mitchell, RCS Educator. In this episode, Dan and Nic discuss the impact Covid-19 has had on surgical supervision as we pass the nine month mark since the start of the first lockdown and approach the end of the year. They will also consider the positive and negative legacies of the pandemic, trainee and trainer confidence, and the balance between learning and service delivery.

Dan and Nic will return in two weeks’ time with the second and final part of this podcast, where they will discuss what the future holds for surgical supervision going into 2021 and beyond. 

For the JCST paper referred to in this episode and more information on the Excellence in Surgical Supervision (ESS) course, please see the below links:

https://www.jcst.org/jcst-news/2020/11/10/news-item/

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/education-and-exams/courses/search/excellence-in-surgical-supervision-ess/