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Surgical Skills for Students and Health Professionals (SSSHP) course 02E

This hands-on, one-day course is designed for medical students preparing to embark on a surgical career, and health professionals working in surgical teams.

This course is worth 8 CPD points

Taught in a practical workshop format, this course will teach you how to perform basic surgical skills in a safe environment, working with jigs and animal or synthetic tissue.

With feedback from faculty, you will develop essential skills such as gowning and gloving, skin preparation and draping, suturing techniques and knot tying.

Completing the Surgical Skills for Students and Health Professionals course entitles medical students, foundation and core trainees to 12 months complimentary Affiliate Membership with RCS England (subject to eligibility). After completing your post-course evaluation, apply for membership as normal and the cost will be removed from your basket.

For more information on Affiliate Membership, please visit this web page

Membership discounts apply on all courses held at the Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London). Members receive a 10% discount worth £25.50 on all courses held at the Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London). Please go to booking options for details. Explore our membership options

Where can I attend SSSHP?

SSSHP courses are delivered at the Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London) and centres in the UK. See below for upcoming course dates, locations and course fees (course fees vary between venues).

  • £299.00
  • 1 Day
  • 8.00 CPD Points
£299.00
1 Day day
8.00 CPD Points

Suitability

This course is aimed at medical students. It is also suitable for health professionals who carry out basic skills like knotting and suturing, such as Operating Department Practitioners and Surgical First Assistants. It may also be useful for allied health professionals who are considering moving into a career relating to surgery. SCPs may attend the SSSHP course to contribute to the syllabus requirements for Intraoperative Skills.

Learning Outcomes

Following the course, you will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate a safe set of aseptic skills
  • Recognise the function, and demonstrate the safe handling, of a basic set of instruments
  • Tie a safe and secure knot
  • Close a wound safely and appropriately
  • Demonstrate safe and appropriate tissue handling
  • Identify principles for the safe use of local anaesthetic

Format

This course teaches practical skills in a workshop environment, using fresh porcine tissue (some regional centres may use, or offer the option of, synthetic tissue). You will be supported by experienced surgeons, and receive personal feedback on your progress.

Additional Information

Course content   

Activities include:

  • surgical handwashing
  • gowning and double-gloving
  • skin preparation and draping
  • tying a variety of surgical knots
  • handling basic surgical instruments
  • interrupted, mattress and subcuticular suturing
  • application of local anaesthetic
  • excision of skin lesion
  • excision of sebaceous cyst

Course materials

As part of the course, you will receive:

  • one years’ access to course videos on the virtual learning environment;
  • companion handbook with step-by-step instructions for all the skills taught on the course, sections on theatre environment and etiquette, and reflective activities;
  • certificate of attendance.

Take a look at a sample Surgical Skills for Students and Health Professionals programme

10% discount on this course for RCS England affiliates and associates

Affiliates and associates benefit from a 10% discount on this course when held at our partner centres. 

Your discount will be applied automatically when booking.

Find out more about joining today.

Booking Options

Regional SSSHP Courses

Sat
27
Sep
2025
£150.00
LEICESTER, United Kingdom

27 Sep 2025

Here is an overview of the programme

£150.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £150.00

Course Fees:

Please note, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at the cancellation policy first.

LEICESTER, United Kingdom

Location:

Leicester General Hospital
LEICESTER
LE5 4PW
United Kingdom
rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
View in Google Maps

Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: £150.00

Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Ms R Goacher
rebecca.goacher@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
0116 2584298

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Sat
15
Nov
2025
£149.00
HULL, United Kingdom

15 Nov 2025

Here is an overview of the programme

£149.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £149.00

Course Fees:

Please note, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at the cancellation policy first.

HULL, United Kingdom

Location:

Suture Centre, Suite 22, Education & Development,
Cottingham
HULL
HU16 5JQ
United Kingdom
janine.peck1@nhs.net
View in Google Maps

Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: £149.00

Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Ms J Peck
janine.peck1@nhs.net
01482 816672

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

RCS England Bjorn Saven Centre

Tue
14
Oct
2025
£299.00
LONDON, United Kingdom

14 Oct 2025

Here is an overview of the programme

£299.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £299.00
Member: £210.00 (30% Discount)
Affiliate: £236.00 (21% Discount)
STM: £269.00 (10% Discount)

Course Fees:

Please note, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at the cancellation policy first.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom

Instructions:

10 participant course in seminar room
View in Google Maps

Book online

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Wed
15
Oct
2025
£299.00
LONDON, United Kingdom

15 Oct 2025

Here is an overview of the programme

£299.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £299.00
Member: £210.00 (30% Discount)
Affiliate: £236.00 (21% Discount)
STM: £269.00 (10% Discount)

Course Fees:

Please note, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at the cancellation policy first.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom

Instructions:

10 participant course in seminar room
View in Google Maps

Book online

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Wed
26
Nov
2025
£299.00
LONDON, United Kingdom

26 Nov 2025

Here is an overview of the programme

£299.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £299.00
Member: £210.00 (30% Discount)
Affiliate: £236.00 (21% Discount)
STM: £269.00 (10% Discount)

Course Fees:

Please note, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at the cancellation policy first.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom

Instructions:

10 participant course in seminar room
View in Google Maps

Book online

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Before booking at the centre, please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.

Further information and queries

Email

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.