Scottish Surgical Boot Camp (formerly Highland Surgical Boot Camp) is an innovative, simulation-rich course for new Core Surgical trainees.
AIMS: to accelerate the acquisition of key technical and non-technical skills at the start of a career in Surgery - skills formerly learned only by apprenticeship or experience - and to provide a welcome to, and standard-setting for, a community of professional practice.
- Commissioned by the Scottish Core Surgical Training Programmes as the introductory course for CT1, and included in the Improving Surgical Training pilot project.
- This year the numbers are such that we can no longer offer places to trainees from outwith the Scottish CST programme.
2024 Courses
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| Sat 31 - Tue 03 September 2024 | Inverness |
| Sat 21 - Tue 24 September 2024 | Inverness |
| Sat 9 - Tue 12 November 2024 | Inverness |
LOCATION: Inverness Centre for Health Science
Course fee: £750. Scottish CST trainees' fees will be paid by NES (not including locum appts).
Course fee: CST trainees' fees will be paid by NES (not including locum appts). Fee includes course fee, lunches and dinner.
Expense claims: Travel expenses can be claimed from the simulation budget through Turas. https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/76383
Accommodation up to £100 per night (maximum 3 nights) will also be covered. Claims must be made in advance of the course.
KEY FEATURES
- Accessible, expert faculty
- Simulation-rich methods, well-validated; experienced staff and actors, state-of-the-art facility
- Technical and non-technical skills, practised in increasingly complex simulations
- WBAs will appear on your ISCP portfolio.
- Intense programme, but Highland-retreat feel, including optional outdoor activities, maximum 16 to a group.
SKILLS TAUGHT
- Non-technical skills for surgeons
- "From basic to intermediate surgical skills": eg bowel anastomosis, skin flaps, vascular
- Laparoscopy skills and how to progress
- Prioritisation skills
- Communication Skills for Surgeons: interpersonal, spoken and written
- How tobetter lead a ward round
- Handling and writing the evidence
- Caring for yourself and your team
- How to get the most from your trainers
TESTIMONY OF PARTICIPANTS
“Experienced staff, beautiful location and facilities, great fun and team spirit, overall fantastic course.”
“It was the most enjoyable course I’ve done.”
“I started a new rotation and had to lead a ward round. ... Instead of feeling stressed I was able to control the distractions using your tips.”
"The simulations felt so real, I could be myself. I didn't have to act."
“The enthusiasm, humour and hard work of faculty was infectious.”
"The bootcamp was excellent. It was well measured in the combination of technical and non-technical skills. ... The anastomosis sessions were excellent - the repetition is not readily available in clinical practice."
"I genuinely feel more capable and comfortable in my job since bootcamp."
