Trainee Representation at RCSEd

Dear All,

Many of you will have read the recent articles in BMA News relating to the disengagement of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) from its own trainee representatives through disbanding of the (RCSEd) Trainees’ Specialty Advisory Board group (TSAB). We wish to draw your attention to the fact that it has also withdrawn representation from the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) and British Orthopaedic Trainees Association (BOTA). ASiT were disappointed to hear of our removal from College Council through rumour rather than from the College itself.

This has in effect meant that ASiT and other groups have had no access to formally raise training issues and concerns at the RCSEd for the last year now. ASiT views this as a serious and retrograde step in the history of representing our 2200 members and one we feel unable to support.

The future representation model that has been suggested by the RCSEd is one where trainees are no longer elected by trainees to represent trainees independently. Trainee representatives would be appointed by the College itself through an application process. ASiT is concerned that this method of representation might allow the strategic placement of junior doctors that would not represent the interests of surgeons in training. We are unable to support this method of selecting representatives and do not feel that it can independently and transparently represent the interests of surgeons in training.

ASiT has the advantage whereby representatives are independent but accountable to the association, its council and members. ASiT representatives also have appropriate support through the structure of the association, and representatives benefit from the organisational memory. We also have in place a framework that allows representation from all regions and surgical sub-specialties.

We are lobbying the RCSEd council to re-engage with us, however to date we have made little progress. As a group of trainees we are of significant number and have a powerful voice. We hope that the RCSEd will reconsider their decision and afford representatives from ASiT and BOTA the privilege of sitting on their council. We write to reassure members that every effort will be made to represent surgeons in training at the highest possible level.

ASiT will continue to represent trainees through other surgical colleges and our other committees and we will advise our members of developments as they occur. If you are concerned by these developments and have further queries please contact us on info@asit.org and if you wish to raise your concerns with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh email them at enquiries@rcsed.ac.uk

Yours sincerely

Charlie
Charlie Giddings FRCS (ORL-HNS)
President, Association of Surgeons in Training
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE
http://www.asit.org

Added on: 1st August 2010