Today, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has announced a significant new project focused on improving obstetric and gynaecology surgery. The project aim is to tackle training issues impacting current surgery provision and to shape the future of training, considering the role of technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence. The ultimate ambition is to ensure surgery training and standards support the O&G workforce to provide high-quality, evidence-based care across the breadth of the specialty, now and in the future.
Over the next three years, the RCOG will undertake work to determine strategies and initiatives that will improve surgical training, and then support the implementation of these. The project will focus on obstetric and gynaecology training opportunities and standards, in the context of clinical care advances, evolving operational delivery, healthcare provision structures, and issues such as demographic and geographical variation.
Phase one, being undertaken in 2024 in partnership with Hologic, will focus on determining the ‘baseline’ for obstetric and gynaecological surgery training and a set of recommendations on improving the quality and robustness of, and access to, obstetric and gynaecology education and training. Activity in phase one will include research and engagement with Members, Fellows and wider health professionals working in the specialty, and stakeholder organisations. The phase one findings and recommendations will be published in late 2024.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said, “Our Members and Fellows, and the wider obstetric and gynaecology workforce, deliver high-quality, evidence-based surgical care. However, there are challenging issues impacting current surgery provision that we need to better understand and then take action on. It’s also imperative we consider how training and standards must evolve to best harness new technologies, such as AI and robotics. This project is a priority for my Presidency, ensuring the College is leading the way in this crucial area.”
Tim Simpson, Hologic General Manager for UK & I said “Hologic is a leading Women’s Health Company dedicated to improving the health and well-being of patients and communities. Training is an essential component to exceptional clinical results utilising the latest innovations. We’re proud to be supporting the RCOG to develop, design and implement a training programme to overcome the challenges in training we see today to achieve our shared mission of providing the highest quality care for patients in the future.”
In year two, the RCOG will design a surgery training programme to ensure the obstetric and gynaecology workforce is equipped to meet surgical service needs, working with statutory education bodies and local training providers to develop and support existing simulation training programmes and roll out best practice nationally. The final year (2026) will see the delivery of new training and education resources, embedded into local training programmes, alongside broader work around surgical mentorships, professional development for newly qualified consultants and attainment of surgical competencies.