Upcoming events

Overview: The advanced male urethral catheterisation (AMUC) training course aims to provide participants with the necessary knowledge base and practical skills to confidently manage challenging and difficult cases independently, employing advanced urethral catheterisation techniques and using Urethrotech UCD catheter with confidence.

Dates:

•  5 December 2025 (1.30pm–5.30pm)

Price: £371.60

Venue: UCH Education Centre, London, NW1 2PG

More information and booking: Advanced Urinary Catheterisation Academy

Overview: This three-day course will provide significant hands-on rehearsal where participants will learn basic microscope set up, dissection and suturing skills, microvascular anastomosis and grafts. 

Target audience: Surgical Trainees (CT2 – ST4) 

Dates:

• 2–4 December 2025
• 20-22 January 2026

Learning outcomes: 

• Basic microscope set up
• Fundamental microsurgery skills
• End-to-end anastomosis (artery-artery, artery-vein)
• Vein graft

Overview: This two-day flap dissection course will explore the anatomy and harvesting techniques for the most used flaps in head and neck reconstructive surgery. The programme has interactive videos and demonstration of the latest 3D surgical planning techniques.

The course director is Abdul Ahmed a Consultant Maxillofacial, Reconstructive, Head and Neck, and Robotic Surgeon based at Northwick Park hospital, and the faculty consists of other highly qualified and experienced head and neck reconstructive surgeons.

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price:

• Surgeon: £1250
• Observers: £300

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: London Flap 2025 (Surgeon) - The Griffin Institute

Overview: A one-and-a-half-day (half-day lecture, full-day hands-on) intensive course at The Griffin Institute focusing on robotic right hemicolectomy and intracorporeal anastomosis. Surgeons will advance their skills through expert-led hands-on training.

Dates: 

• 18-19 February 2026
• 26-27 August 2026

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price:

• Surgeons: £1925 (ALSGBI, EAES and Dukes' Club Members will get a £175 discount)
• Observers: £300

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website:

• Robotic Right Hemicolectomy and Intracorporeal Anastomosis Course - The Griffin Institute
• Robotic Right Hemicolectomy and Intracorporeal Anastomosis Course OBSERVERS - The Griffin Institute

Overview: Aimed at surgical trainees who have an interest in robotic surgery. The generic skills covered in this course will be useful for many specialties. Formative feedback will be offered throughout, with a series of summative assessments at the end of the course.

Target audience: Surgical Trainees interested in robotic surgery.

Dates: 

• 10 – 13 February 2026
• 21– 24 April 2026
• 2 – 5 June 2026
• 14 – 17 July 2026
• 18 – 21 August 2026
• 29 September – 2 October 2026
• 10 – 13 November 2026
• 8 – 11 December 2026

The course includes: 

• System information (Xi), docking, targeting anatomy, communication, instrument insertion, undocking
• Fundamental skills rehearsal with VR simulation, surgeon console and physical tasks (dry lab)
• Skills development and wet lab
• Final VR and console tasks, knowledge and skills assessment

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £2570 (ALSGBI members will get a £150 discount)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Robotic Driving Licence - The Griffin Institute

Overview: A two-day course covering basic robotic skills for GI surgery. Delegates will benefit most from this event if they are in a position to consolidate their robotic skills when they return to their own clinical setting.

Target audience: Surgical Trainees and Consultants who want basic experience of robotic surgery.

Dates:

• 20 – 21 May 2026
• 1 – 2 July 2026
• 12 – 13 August 2026
• 23 – 24 September 2026
• 4 – 5 November 2026
• 2 – 3 December 2026

The course will include:

• pre-course learning
• system information (Da Vinci consoles)
• docking and undocking
• set up and basic manipulation exercises
• robotic dissection skills
• non-technical skills
• troubleshooting
• emergency undocking
• robotic suturing/anastomosis exercises

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £1300 (ALSGBI members will get a £100 discount)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Basic Robotic Skills Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: This 3-day course will provide significant hands-on rehearsal where participants will learn basic microscope set up, dissection and suturing skills, microvascular anastomosis and grafts. 

Target Audience: Surgical Trainees (CT2 – ST4) 

Dates:

• 2– 4 December 2025
• 20– 22 January 2026

Learning outcomes: 

• Basic microscope set up
• Fundamental microsurgery skills
• End to end anastomosis (artery-artery, artery-vein)
• Vein graft 

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £660

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Introduction to Microsurgery 2025 - The Griffin Institute

Topics covered: 

• Philosophy of the multidisciplinary approach to major trauma in theatre 
• Practical integration of Damage Control Resuscitation and Surgery Damage control anaesthesia
• Complex surgical decision making in cavity surgery and the mangled extremity through cadaveric training and simulation
• Surgical considerations for anaesthetists/anaesthetic considerations for surgeons
• The utility of radiology/IR in major trauma
• The role of perioperative practitioners in delivering effective trauma care
• Planning beyond damage control

Target audience: ST8 and Consultants in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery & Plastic Surgery, ST8 & Consultant Anaesthetists, Operating Department Practitioners

Overview: The course will commence with CT imaging of injuries on human cadaveric specimens. Participants will benefit from expert guidance on treatment planning, with feedback on performance enhanced by CT evaluation of repairs.

Target audience: Surgical Trainees and Consultants 

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price:

• Surgeon: £1250
• Observers: £220

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Surgical repair of craniofacial trauma - The Griffin Institute

Overview: Intensive hands-on course for experienced colorectal surgeons. Focus on TME and Splenic Flexure using robotic technology. Two candidates per robot.

Target audience: 

• ST7/ST8
• Post CCT Fellows
• New Consultants

Dates: 

• 15 – 16 April 2026
• 7 – 8 October 2026

Learning objectives

• Understand robotic TME and understand strategies for splenic flexure mobilisation and transverse colon.
• Identify key anatomical landmarks.
• Apply robotic techniques for precision and outcomes.
• Manage intraoperative challenges.
• Gain confidence in da Vinci Xi use

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £2100 (Dukes' Club and ALSGBI members will get a £200 discount.)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Advanced Colorectal Robotic Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: This course is designed for surgeons to enhance their skills in upper gastrointestinal robotic surgery. It offers lectures and hands-on training in robotic techniques, with experienced faculty offering tips and guidance for surgical techniques.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the fundamentals of upper gastrointestinal robotic surgery
• Apply proficiency in instruments and system operation
• Employ advanced techniques to perform complex upper gastrointestinal robotic procedures.
• Includes benign (including bariatric, cholecystectomy, and Hiatal Hernia repair) and malignant UGI resections (esophagectomy and gastrectomy), tailored to participants’ specific interests.
• Short video presentations of all procedures.

• Senior trainees/fellows who finished or about to finish training
• Consultants in their early robotic career
• UK-based or international
• Had completed basic robotic training
• Had experience in performing complex/advanced upper GI surgeries.
• Please send us your CV along with details of your robotic experience.

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £1750

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Advanced Upper Gastrointestinal Robotic Surgery Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: The Basic Surgical Skills course is your gateway to mastering essential techniques to kick-start your career in surgery. Over two transformative days, you’ll gain hands-on experience in suturing, knot-tying and tissue handling. These skills will help you make the most of your time in theatre and move confidently towards your career goals.  

Target audience:

• Foundation Trainees
• Core Surgical Trainees, and
• Medical Professionals required to perform minor surgical procedures including doctors from non-surgical specialities and other healthcare roles.

Learning outcomes: 

• Identify and practise safe operating techniques, including gowning and gloving.
• Recognise the characteristics of surgical instruments and sharps and handle them safely.
• Identify and use the correct techniques for laying safe surgical knots
• Identify and use correct, safe suturing techniques
• Describe the principles of handling tissues and recognise differing requirements for differing sites
• Explain and practise safe local anaesthetic techniques
• Assess and implement the primary surgical management of infected and contaminated soft tissues
• Explain the principles behind the practical and safe use of electrosurgery devices
• Manipulate endoscopic instruments safely and with appropriate visuospatial awareness.

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Email: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview: The FESS Course has been designed with maximum hands-on dissection time. Individual delegates will perform each procedure under direct supervision in a unique intensive series of practical surgical cadaveric workshops. Specialist faculty will provide short didactic lectures, an open forum and case-based discussions, all held in a relaxed, interactive way.

Practical sessions:

• Practical fresh frozen cadaver dissection/supervised tuition
• Endonasal techniques from basic to advanced
• How to recognize/deal with emergency ESS situations
• Practical radiological anatomy
• Open approaches to sinuses
• Skull base procedures

Target Audience: ENT Trainees ST3 - ST8 to Consultants

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Email: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview:

This is a one-day course designed to provide a competency-based approach to anatomical temporal bone dissection. Teaching is through cadaver dissection, and you will have hands-on practical dissection on a fresh frozen temporal bone.

You will have the opportunity to perform supervised temporal bone basic and advanced procedures. Progression through the dissection will be performed under the close supervision of trainers and paced at an appropriate level to the participant. The extent of dissection and other procedures, carried out by each individual trainee will be tailored to their level of experience.

Target audience:

• Core Trainees
• Registrars
• SAS
• New Consultants

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Fee: £600

Website: Temporal Bone Course - Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview: This is a one and a half day course with a full day of hands-on training in the cadaver lab. 

Aims: 

• Overview of endoluminal tips and tricks in managing ureteric strictures and obstruction.
• Hands-on training in the insertion and removal of various metal ureteric stents.
• Understanding the indications, complications and latest literature review of metal stent use.
• Ureteroscopic laser stricuroplasty and balloon dilatation of ureteric strictures.
• Review of alternative options for ureteric obstruction including extra-anatomical scents.

Target audience: Senior urology trainees, urology consultants 

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview: This course is designed for trainees in hand surgery (orthopaedics and plastics) irrespective of experience in K-wiring.

Learn the sure and proper way of k-wiring and you will not need to do an ORIF ever again, saving you operating time and money. Also, understand fluoroscopy and how to use it safely.

This is a hands-on course, first with dry bones and then with cadaveric hands. Understand and practise k-wiring without the pressure of time.

Aims: 

• Technique of k-wiring
• Understanding fluoroscopy
• Complications
• Understand why k-wires get infected or loose and how to reduce complications
• Advantages and disadvantages of k-wiring

Target audience: Trainees in Plastics and Orthopaedics

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Aims and objectives: 

• Become familiar with the function and operation of the Da Vinci Surgical System
• Appreciate the ergonomics of the Da Vinci Surgical system robot and the available robotic instrumentation
• Perform the standard primary TORS procedure on cadaveric simulation
• Understand the relevant TORS anatomy
• Define the role of TORS in current day and head and neck cancer patients
• Understand the benefits and rationale of offering a transoral resection service
• Gain an insight into the pathological assessment of transoral resections
• Understand the adjuvant treatment and schedule following transoral surgery.

Target audience: Trainees ST5 - ST8 and Consultants

Price: £1600

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Contact: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net and 0191 2138628

Overview: The course is designed to facilitate the surgeon with didactic and hands on cadaveric training experience. Conducted by a faculty of experienced surgeons, this is an intensive two day course of lectures, debate, exchange and practical hands on experience on colorectal procedures using an XI Da Vinci Robot.

Aims and objectives: 

• Become familiar with the function and working of the Da Vinci system
• Understand the selection process, positioning, docking and buttonology of the Da Vinci robotic system
• Basic skills for robotic console surgery
• Develop skills for robotic colorectal resection.

Target audience: Senior Colorectal Trainees and Consultants

Price: £1600

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Contact: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net and 0191 2138628

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre - NSTC - Robotic Colorectal Course