The introduction of a Surgical Care Practitioner training programme to an acute National Health Service trust and an exploration of the interrelationships between Surgical Care Practitioners, their trainers and surgical trainees.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the impact of the introduction of a Surgical Care Practitioner programme on junior surgical training within an acute National Health Service trust. A qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviews was used to gather information from eight Surgical Care Practitioners, eight surgical trainees and eight consultant grade trainers. The authors found an overall positive and mutually beneficial outcome of the training programme, with surgical trainees unanimous that the presence of the Surgical Care Practitioners freed them up for more time to be spent in theatre, as well as acting as highly experienced surgical assistants when the trainees were operating on their own. This study found significant mutual benefits to surgical trainees and Surgical Care Practitioners, as well as smoother running of the wards, theatres and the clinical firms through the addition of a highly skilled and versatile Surgical Care Practitioner workforce.