Case Study - Minimal Access Surgery
Sector: Healthcare
Doctors, like many other professionals, need to regularly refresh their knowledge and keep up to speed with the latest ideas and changes in their field.
Continuous professional development (CPD) is an increasingly important area of activity for Newcastle University.
The post-graduate certificate in ‘Minimal Access Surgery’ – keyhole surgery - is the latest in a number of new courses developed by Newcastle University to address employer training needs for the NHS and regional industry.
The need for the course came from recent changes to the working hours of doctors alongside increased competition for limited specialism places. The course is designed to allow the students to develop their surgical skills and therefore distinguish themselves from their peers.
It’s run in partnership with the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre at the Freeman Hospital on a part time-basis over eight months, a model that minimises disruption to the students and their employers. It’s also unique across the whole of the UK as the only course where students learn on virtual reality machines and donated cadavers.
Among those highly impressed with the course is Ken Campbell, of NHS Tayside, who says: “The techniques being employed here are at the forefront of their field.”
Niall O’Loughlin, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator at the university’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, said: “We have a strong relationship with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, and the opportunity to be partner with a facility like the Surgical Training Centre to provide world-leading training and improve patient outcomes is tremendous.
“It’s a prime example of the collaborative approach we take at Newcastle to meeting business training needs.”
Further information:
General enquiries
- Mr Christopher Hoy, christopher.hoy@ncl.ac.uk
- Teaching and Learning Awards Officer
- Research & Enterprise Services
- Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 5886
