The traditional surgical workforce is changing and the roles undertaken by non-medical practitioners have subsequently adapted to become an integral part of the modern surgical team.
The increasingly important roles played by a wider variety of practitioners is now being recognised and highlights the importance of training and education, so that all members of the surgical team are working towards the same high standard of patient care.
The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) have formed a collaboration to address these training and development needs. Their second joint conference was held in Birmingham with a focus on ‘The Perioperative Practitioner: Setting of Standards – An Opportunity or Requirement’.
Conference highlights included sessions around CPD requirements for the perioperative practitioner, educational opportunities for advanced practitioners, audits, challenges faced by students joining the surgical team, revalidation and current issues in professional regulation.
In addition to offering delegates a varied mix of essential education, the conference also saw the launch of the second phase of membership for the RCSEd’s Faculty of Perioperative Care, inaugurated in March 2016, adding an Affiliate Member category to the membership and Fellowship categories.
Dawn Stott commented “AfPP’s vision is to improve patient safety through leading perioperative excellence and these collaborative events are a great way in which AfPP can share their knowledge with a wider audience to ultimately help us achieve this goal.
“Funding for education for practitioners has faced challenges in recent times, with the Health Select Committee raising concerns about the ability to adequately train and supply NHS staff within the current budgets. The collaboration between the RCSEd’s Faculty of Perioperative Care and the Association for Perioperative Practice is a great opportunity for two organisations to recognise this and support the wider surgical team to ensure better patient outcomes. I am delighted with how well the event was received and look forward to our next project with vigour.” For details of future training events, visit: www.afpp.org.uk
