Basic Surgical Skills (BSS)

Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) is a practical, two-day workshop designed to teach fundamental surgical techniques. The course helps you accelerate your surgical career by developing essential hands-on techniques such as suturing, knot-tying, tissue handling, and safe instrument use, under expert guidance from experienced faculty.

This course is ideal for foundation doctors (FY1–FY3), core surgical trainees (CT1, CT2), healthcare professionals looking to build or refresh essential surgical skills, and candidates preparing for the MRCS Part B exam or core surgical training interviews. While prior surgical experience is not required, the course is best suited to those already on a clinical training path. Specialist Clinical Practitioners may attend to meet syllabus requirements for Intraoperative Skills. The course aligns with the GMC Capabilities in Practice Framework and the Foundation Curriculum High-Level Outcomes.

The course is delivered in-person at The Bjorn Saven Centre at RCS England London and approved regional centres across the UK. Faculty and membership discounts apply to courses held at the Bjorn Saven Centre.

Day one covers essential techniques including knot-tying, instrument handling, suturing, skin lesion removal, ligation/transfixion, and tissue handling. You will also learn gowning and gloving procedures and local anaesthetic management. Day two pushes your skills further with advanced techniques in assisted abdominal closure, vascular surgery, tendon repair, and an introduction to endoscopic surgery. You'll have the opportunity to try removing a simulated appendix during the endoscopy session. Additional sessions cover tissue handling for infected and contaminated tissues, electrosurgery device usage, endoscopic instrument manipulation in a 3D surgical environment, and visuospatial awareness and depth cueing in endoscopic surgery.

The course includes pre-course e-learning with the BSS handbook and course videos on the provider's platform, followed by a multiple-choice question test with an 80% pass mark. Post-course, optional follow-up resources are provided on the online learning platform, including home kits for knot tying and suturing, an endoscopic simulator, and a robotics overview. Training centres may use porcine, ovine, or synthetic models depending on availability and preferences.

BSS will help you get ahead in core surgical training interviews and MRCS Part B exams through enhanced suturing skills and associated knowledge, boost your confidence in theatre, and align your skillset with the Basic Surgical Skills module in the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme's Core Surgical Training Syllabus. If you are undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Surgery, you will be awarded two credits upon completing this course.