Mr J. N. Alastair Gibson, Honorary Treasurer at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), shares an insight into the history, institution, and membership of the RCSEd. His interview can be found below: “I am aware of the Royal College on Nicolson Street but what is the history of the institution and how will membership fit into the life of a future surgeon?”
On 1 July 1505 a ‘Seal of Cause’ (charter of privileges) was granted by the Town Council of Edinburgh to incorporate the Barber Surgeons as a craft guild. This was ratified the following year by King James IV who had a particular interest in all matters medical and dental. It took a further 142 years (1647) before formal examination regulations were laid out and not until 1722 that we separated from the Barbers (perhaps a continued link would have been useful during lockdown!). 1771 brought the first diploma examination leading to the Royal Charter in 1778, so that the college was henceforth known as The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. In 1832 the new Playfair Hall on the College site was opened to great acclaim. 1888 brought the first female examination success but, reflecting the times, Fellowship for a female had to wait until 1920 and Membership of Council until 1984. In 1966, the first overseas examination was held in Hong Kong and since then the College has strengthened both its home and international presence, with the opening of the Birmingham Office in 1984 and Kuala Lumpur Office in 2018. Currently, RCSEd has 30,000 Members and Fellows of whom approximately 15,000 are UK based. Recently, Council has supported not only surgeons and dental surgeons but also those in the allied professions. The College has established Faculties of Pre-Hospital care, Sports and Exercise Medicine and Remote and Rural Healthcare / Humanitarian Medicine to allow integration and support to practitioners of any level of surgery. In the future, all Doctors will require support to aid and improve their teaching skills to facilitate training of the next generation of surgeons. To facilitate this we now have a vibrant Faculty of Surgical Trainers. “So, I understand that the College trustees have effective control of my future exams, but is the concept of a surgical College not a bit out of date? We hope not. As a collegiate group, surgeons from the Edinburgh College have been associated with many advancements in medical care and this drive to excellence continues to this day. This will of course never happen without provision of a wide range of teaching to support a surgeon through his or her career and many courses will be available to you once you’ve joined us. The College is of course a charitable institution (not even the President who works full-time is paid!). All membership fees and any profit from educational activity goes directly back to supporting our activities. The Hon. Treasurer is tasked to ensure that any spare cash, or legacy money, is directed to supporting research and our subsidised projects / humanitarian work in Africa and elsewhere. In terms of the College buildings, many surgeons have used the facilities for private parties, weddings and other events through our corporate arm ‘Surgeons Quarter’ (SQ). The latter is a development that we set up three years ago to bring the Nicolson Street area, previously known as ‘Surgeons Hall’ into a ‘NY Greenwich Village’ style location in Edinburgh. SQ includes the College itself, the Museum, Prince Philip Convention suites, The Quincentenary building with surgical skills laboratories, offices and of course our award winning 4-star hotel: 10 Hill Place. “How does the College interface with the GMC and Defence Organisations that I will be obliged to join?” As indicated above the College was established long before any of them! Traditionally a surgeon could not adopt the title Mr (or Miss) until passing the Fellowship of one of the Royal Colleges and this title remains unique to the UK. It is now a courtesy title after the membership exam which replaced the original FRCSEd in general surgery. RCSEd continues to hold exams on an intercollegiate basis and provide to the GMC a statement of excellence of a candidate’s surgical skill. Prior to becoming a consultant, surgeons in the UK will sit the final intercollegiate FRCS examination in their specialty. Other than your higher University exams – PhD etc. this will be your final examination and so should be a most enjoyable experience! We would hope that you will choose to remain with RCSEd at that time, particularly if you have interfaced with our College during the preceding years. “Why should I join the Edinburgh College rather than the Royal College of Surgeons of England or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow?” I could say that we are the largest and oldest College but this would not represent the fact that we are recognized as the Friendliest and most forward thinking. This is why not only do we have junior doctors’ representatives on Committees and our Council but we are developing technology for the 21st Century. This month we launch the RCSEd App which you may download. As an Affiliate to our College there will be Webinars and other resources that will help you in your studies including Acland’s Anatomy and access to the Library resources. “What would I gain from joining now as an Affiliate member?” You will start your surgical journey and be provided with regular information to enhance your career. While at Uni you may enter our Skills Competitions for Dentistry and Surgery and enhance your CVs! As you progress later, through foundation and ST, you will then have the opportunity to join the Trainees Committee, Younger Fellows Committee or be a Regional Surgical or Dental Ambassador. Our membership and communications department will try and ensure that you are appraised of all courses and activities specifically directed to your stage of training. In addition, you will gain a valuable ‘networking’ facility and, if that’s not enough, you will get 10% off at our Hotel and Café, code for a Totum card and even the ability to book your next holiday to the Med and elsewhere at a discounted rate through SQ travel. Bring your friends and family to the Museum (80,000 visitors last year) and enjoy a drink at our Al Fresco café during the remains of lockdown. I hope that this blog stimulates you to sign up as an Affiliate right now at www.RCSEd.ac.uk. If anyone wants more information feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] Mr J.N.Alastair Gibson DSc MD FRCSEd FRCS(Tr & Orth) MFSTEd Honorary Treasurer RCSEd Consultant Spinal Surgeon RIE (1993-2018) ESSS thanks Professor John Buckels for writing this article.
1 Comment
11/29/2023 09:38:13 pm
Unfortunately, no! Because an emergency intervention may be required for a complication that may occur in a distant patient. In such a situation, the situation becomes complicated, since a surgeon on Earth will not have a chance to intervene with a patient in space. This was also not allowed due to the loophole that would arise from legal liability if the astronaut died due to this condition...
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