The President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is in Auckland this week to speak at the annual meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
Speaking at the meeting on Thursday 9 May, Mr Ian Ritchie will discuss the changing role of the RCSEd as it responds to the shifting shape of healthcare and the surgical profession in the UK and internationally.
Commenting on the visit, Mr Ritchie said: “I look forward to using this visit to build on existing relationships and discuss shared professional concerns with our Australasian fellows, members and colleagues. Although the surgical profession and healthcare have changed radically over the course of the College’s history, our central concern is, and has always been, the maintenance and promotion of the highest standards of surgical care for patients. The interests and safety of our patients must be at the heart of everything we do as a College and as individuals. In the UK there is considerable focus on this in the wake of the Francis Report, however the same concern applies to our Fellows and Members throughout the world.”
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has around 20,000 members worldwide including over 1000 across Australia and New Zealand.
The visit comes following the Edinburgh College’s launch of the International School of Surgery (ISS); an exciting venture which brings together the RCSEd’s wide range of international activities, events, courses and exams.
The ISS will work to develop and deliver new international opportunities for the College’s Fellows and Members and support them through a combination of online and locally-delivered activities, with the full engagement of the RCSEd International Surgical Advisor network.
The aim of the ISS is to offer educational support for surgeons throughout their careers, from training and beyond, by providing opportunities for continuing professional development and engagement with the College. The ISS will develop in response to the needs of RCSEd’s international membership and the evolution of the profession.
Mr Ritchie said: “The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has represented the surgical and dental workforce for over 500 years. In that time we have grown from our foundation in Edinburgh, to become a modern, international network with some 20,000 Fellows, Members and Affiliates based in almost one hundred countries worldwide.
“The International School of Surgery will allow us to work even more closely with that membership and provide them with unrivalled access to all that the College can offer.”
Visit the International School of Surgery's website: www.iss.rcsed.ac.uk