New research highlights need for surgeon peer support as RCS England launches SUPPORT2
17 Sep 2026
More than 88% of surgeons surveyed say surgeon-specific peer support is needed, as RCS England launches SUPPORT2 with 16 new and five returning site teams.
The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) today launches SUPPORT2, the next phase of its surgeon peer-support improvement programme. Twenty-one site teams across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are taking part, including 16 new sites and five returning from SUPPORT1. The launch follows new research highlighting a significant gap in support for surgeons following adverse events.
The research, published in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, found that over 88% (88.1%) of surgeons surveyed believed there was a need for surgeon-specific peer support following an adverse event, while just under 25% (24.5%) agreed that existing support in their Trust was adequate. More than half (58.5%) also agreed that showing vulnerability as a surgeon carries a stigma.
Professor Kevin Turner, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Co-National Clinical Lead for SUPPORT, said:
“Things can go wrong in surgery. When they do, the patient and their loved ones must remain the most important focus. But surgeons are affected too, and adverse events can have a significant impact on their wellbeing and ability to do their job.
“Surgeons may need support to navigate this, but the culture of surgery can sometimes create barriers to asking for help. SUPPORT is helping to change that by enabling hospitals to develop peer support for surgeons following adverse events.”
Mr Tim Lane, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:
“Good surgical care needs an environment where surgeons can respond openly when things go wrong, learn from what has happened and access appropriate support. This research, published in the Annals, shows there is more to do.
“SUPPORT demonstrates RCS England's commitment to helping surgical organisations build supportive and learning-centred cultures following adverse events. We hope that seeking support becomes a normal part of everyday professional surgical practice rather than something surgeons should feel reluctant to do.”
The research also evaluated SUPPORT1, finding significant improvements among participating site-team members confidence and skills relating to peer-support conversations, understanding psychological responses to adverse events, understanding barriers to support-seeking and implementing peer support. Participants also reported significant improvements in self-compassion, compassion towards colleagues, and compassion received from colleagues at work.
Learning from SUPPORT1 has informed the design of SUPPORT2, with peer-supporter training introduced earlier in the programme, more direct support and coaching for site teams, clearer implementation milestones, and centrally managed evaluation. The programme also places greater emphasis on organisational backing, referral pathways, psychological risk, inequalities in access to support, and sustaining peer support beyond its initial implementation.
The MPS Foundation - a global, not-for-profit research initiative established by the Medical Protection Society - is continuing to back SUPPORT2, funding an Innovation and Improvement Fellow for 12 months, contributing to wider project costs and helping RCS England reduce the participation fee for NHS organisations from £7,500 plus VAT to £2,000 plus VAT, making the programme more accessible to surgical teams.
Professor Gozie Offiah, Chair of the MPS Foundation, said:
“In a profession where the stakes are extraordinarily high, adverse patient events can have a profound and lasting impact on surgeons. As a former surgeon myself, I understand the importance of having access to the right support at the right time, along with the barriers that can prevent clinicians from seeking help. SUPPORT2 is a vital step towards ensuring that no surgeon faces the aftermath of an adverse event alone. The MPS Foundation is proud to support this important initiative and help to make it as accessible as possible to surgical teams.”
Notes to editors
1. SUPPORT1 brought together 12 hospital Trusts or groups across England and the Republic of Ireland between October 2023 and March 2025: SUPPORT-Improvement-Collaborative-Learning-Report.pdf
2. A qualitative study published in Healthcare in May 2026 explored the experiences of SUPPORT1 site-team members and identified practical and organisational factors that helped or hindered implementation of peer support: “Talking to Someone Who Gets It…” Experiences of Surgical Site Teams in Implementing a Peer Support Programme for Surgeons After Adverse Events | MDPI
3. Find out more about SUPPORT: www.rcseng.ac.uk/supportimprovement
5. The RCS England SUPPORT collaborative: where are we and what next? | The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
6. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.
7. The MPS Foundation is a global not-for-profit research initiative, established by the Medical Protection Society. It invests in research, analysis, education and training which enables medical and dental practitioners around the world to provide better care for their patients and improve their own wellbeing. Find out more: The MPS Foundation
8. For more information, please contact the press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.