Basic Surgical Skills (BSS)
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.
This course is worth 16 CPD points
Membership discounts apply on all courses held at the Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London). Members receive a 20% discount worth £169.80 on BSS courses. Please go to booking options for details. Explore our membership options.
Where can I attend BSS?
BSS courses are delivered at The Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London) and centres in the UK and internationally. See below for upcoming course dates and locations.
- £679.20
- 2 days
- 16.00 CPD Points
Learning Outcomes
Why take this course?
- Get ahead in your Core Surgical Training interviews and MRCS Part B exams with practical skills that will set you apart.
- Boost your confidence in theatre.
- Align your skillset with the GMC Capabilities in Practice Framework and the Foundation Curriculum High-Level Outcomes
What you'll gain:
- Day 1: Build a strong foundation with essential techniques like knot-tying, instrument handling, and suturing, plus practical skills like skin lesion removal, ligation/transfixion, and tissue handling.
- Day 2: Push your skills further with advanced techniques in assisted abdominal closure, vascular surgery, tendon repair, and an introduction to endoscopic surgery.
After attending this course, you'll be able to:
- demonstrate safe operating techniques;
- use a variety of surgical knots safely and effectively;
- confidently handle and use surgical instruments;
- handle tissues confidently with due regard to their unique properties;
- use endoscopic instruments in a practical and safe way;
- discuss the practical, safe use of electrosurgery.
Suitability
This course is suitable for FY1-2 and CT1-2. It is also open to surgical first assistants, and anyone in training for those roles.
SCPs may attend the BSS course to meet the syllabus requirements for Intraoperative Skills.
Format
BSS is a practical, workshop-led course. Each skill is introduced with a step-by-step demonstration before participants practice the technique. Many centres use a variety of porcine and ovine/maleagrine tissues although some choose to use synthetic tissue. Please check with the centre in advance if this is a concern for you. The Bjorn Saven Centre at RCS England uses animal tissue.
You will participate in a variety of practical training sessions during the BSS course, including:
- gowning, gloving, laying safe surgical knots and local anaesthetic management;
- tissue handling practice (including for infected and contaminated tissues), along with the requirements for differing tissue sites, such as skin, bowel or vessels;
- electrosurgery device usage;
- manipulation of endoscopic instruments in a 3D surgical environment while viewing a remote 2D image;
- visuospatial awareness, management of depth cueing and control of the ‘fulcrum effect’ during endoscopic surgery.
You will receive continual feedback and assessment throughout the two days.
Before the course, you will have access to the BSS handbook and our online learning platform, where you can view the BSS videos, other supporting materials and do the MCQs. This essential pre-course material will ensure you get the most out of every session.
Additional Information
If you’re undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Surgery, you will be awarded 4 credits upon taking this course. The inclusion of courses in the PGCert in Surgery is subject to availability.
Interested in becoming BSS faculty? Find out more about teaching on our courses.
Booking Options
Regional BSS Courses
28
Apr
2025
-
29
Apr
2025
£650
Pricing notes:
Full price: £650
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
Royal Surrey County Hospital
Location:
Royal Surrey County HospitalEgerton Road
GUILDFORD
GU2 7XX
United Kingdom
asnook@nhs.net
07703547811
Instructions:
Mrs A Snook, asnook@nhs.net, 07703547811 View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Booking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: £650
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Mrs A Snook
asnook@nhs.net
http://www.mattu.org.uk
Book online
28
Apr
2025
-
29
Apr
2025
£695
Pricing notes:
Full price: £695
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Location:
Leicester General HospitalGwendolen Road
LEICESTER
LE5 4PW
United Kingdom
rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
0116 2584298
Instructions:
Ms R Goacher, rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk, 0116 2584298 View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Pricing notes:
Full price: £695
Fully Booked
Contact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Ms R Goacher
rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
mailto:rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Book online
13
May
2025
-
14
May
2025
£600
Pricing notes:
Full price: £600
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
Location:
Rotherham NHS Foundation TrustMoorgate Road
ROTHERHAM
S60 2UD
United Kingdom
jonathan.kyffin@nhs.net
01709 428032
Instructions:
Mr J Kyffin, jonathan.kyffin@nhs.net, 01709 428032 View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Booking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: £600
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Mr J Kyffin
jonathan.kyffin@nhs.net
mailto:jonathan.kyffin@nhs.net
Book online
RCS England Bjorn Saven Centre
27
May
2025
-
28
May
2025
from £679.20
Pricing notes:
Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
LONDON, United Kingdom
Location:
RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300 View in Google Maps
You need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Book online
29
May
2025
-
30
May
2025
from £679.20
Pricing notes:
Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
LONDON, United Kingdom
Location:
RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300 View in Google Maps
You need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Book online
13
Jun
2025
-
14
Jun
2025
from £679.20
Pricing notes:
Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
LONDON, United Kingdom
Location:
RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300 View in Google Maps
You need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Book online
International BSS Courses
18
May
2025
-
19
May
2025
AED 3675
Pricing notes:
Full price: AED 3675
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
University Of Sharjah
Location:
University of SharjahSharjah Surgical Institute
27272 SHARJAH
United Arab Emirates
jthadathil@sharjah.ac.ae
00971 503471824
Instructions:
Mr J Simon, jthadathil@sharjah.ac.ae, 00971 503471824 View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Booking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: AED 3675
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Mr J Simon
jthadathil@sharjah.ac.ae
https://ssi.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Programs/Pages/CourseRegistrationForm.aspx?mcid=781
Book online
30
May
2025
-
31
May
2025
600€
Pricing notes:
Full price: 600€
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
University of Thessaly
Location:
IASO Thessalias Hospital8th klm O.N.R.
41500 LARISSA
Greece
bss.greece@gmail.com
00306 937220320
Instructions:
Ms E Kokoti, bss.greece@gmail.com, 00306 937220320 View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Booking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: 600€
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Ms E Kokoti
bss.greece@gmail.com
mailto:bss.greece@gmail.com
Book online
13
Jun
2025
-
14
Jun
2025
INR 25000/-
Pricing notes:
Full price: INR 25000/-
Course Fees:
Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.
For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.
Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS)
Location:
Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS)Senapati Bapat Road
PUNE 411004
India
drparag@sihspune.org
91 9822040971
Instructions:
Dr P Rishipathak, drparag@sihspune.org, 91 9822040971, For registrations, please visit: www.schs.edu.in For further queries please contact: Dr Shrimathy Vijayaraghavan Mob: +91-9029279349/ Email id: pgdems@schs.edu.in/smoic@schs.edu.in View in Google MapsYou need to allow targeting cookies to view this content. Click the button below to manage your cookie settings and select "Targeting Cookies" on the left hand side.
Booking details
Pricing notes:
Full price: INR 25000/-
Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:
Have an account?
Please loginNot got an account?
Register to continueContact details:
Please contact the coordinator:
Dr P Rishipathak
drparag@sihspune.org
https://schs.edu.in/assets/pdf/2023/BSS_Poster.pdf
Book online
Further information and queries
You can get in touch with us by emailing education@rcseng.ac.uk Please quote your RCS account number in all correspondence.
If your enquiry relates to a course please provide the course name and dates.
We will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible. Usually this is within a couple of days. Please note we do not work weekends.
Phone us
Call 020 7869 6300 to talk with a member of our team.
We are available to answer calls during our working hours of 8.30am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and there is a voicemail outside this time.