Surgical care team welcomed into membership

In order to enhance patient care, improve services and develop surgical training we must look to the effective and consistent use of roles within the extended surgical team.

Today we are pleased to welcome roles within the surgical care team to join our international community of members, and to launch new guidance, which will support a strategic and cross-profession approach to using the surgical care team in the most effective way.

New membership category launched

The following roles within the surgical care team are eligible to join as associate members:

• Surgical Care Practitioners
• Surgical First Assistants
• Physician Associates
• Advanced Nurse Practitioners
• Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Joining as an associate member will enable these roles to join a growing professional community of more than 26,000 members across the UK and internationally.

There are a wealth of benefits of becoming an associate member and we will work closely with new members to shape the RCS and the work we do. We are offering an introductory 50% discount on membership fees for new associate members in 2018.

Read more about the benefits of membership and find out how to join. Hear what Clare Sutherland, Advanced Clinical Practitioner has to say about our work around the surgical care team in the video below:

New guidance launched

Alongside the new membership category, we have launched new guidance for employers, surgeons and healthcare professionals that will help them utilise the surgical care team in a consistent manner, by:

• Setting out distinct extended roles; outlining competencies, training and clear routes of entry.
• Providing guidance on how to lead a surgical care team as well as recommendations and resources for clinical governance arrangements.

Explore the guidance.

Help us to spread the word

Please help us to spread the word about our exciting new developments that aim to support team working and better patient care. You can support us in a number of ways:

1. Tweet using #surgicalcareteam and tagging @RCSnews

2. Talk to peers and colleagues

3. Print out this poster and pin it up in any relevant staff areas

Questions, feedback, or ideas? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact membership@rcseng.ac.uk.