The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Two people on a blue background with the text 'Be a mentee'

Mentoring: now open to resident doctors 👇

Following a successful pilot, our mentoring scheme is ready to support you. This is an exclusive member benefit, shaped by your feedback.

Explore and sign up: https://ow.ly/cTJo50YpgwI

Medical trainees in blue gowns and gloves practicing surgical suturing under instructor guidance in a clinical skills lab.

Receive up to £1,000 towards your professional development 📢

Our educational bursaries are open, with multiple awards available. Find out more and apply by 16 March: https://ow.ly/gR1K50YiIxo

An image of hands celebrating and throwing colourful powder during the Holi festival

Wishing a happy and colourful Holi to our members, friends and colleagues celebrating.

Our new initiative with @collegeofsurgeons.bsky.social hopes to improve treatment options for people with rectal cancer while reducing the need for surgery. The initiative aims to deliver more personalised care, reduce unnecessary operations, and improve people's quality of life.

Just 6% of surgeons in private healthcare are women vs an already low 17% in the NHS - new research published in our #Bulletin: https://ow.ly/bEUV50YnOLw

Featuring in The Times today, we call on private hospitals to take meaningful action. https://ow.ly/q6xM50YnOLg

The cover of the Annals showing someone reaching for tools on a tray

Safer discharge, better training, clearer documentation and patient‑led priorities. Our latest #Annals brings together evidence across surgery — from thyroid and breast care to trauma, urology and education — grounded in real practice.

Read the full issue: https://ow.ly/y7vG50Ymvpz

Twenty candidates for RCS England Council displayed in frames above voting deadline text for 9 April.

Council decisions shape the profession you work in every day.

Your vote determines who speaks for you and your colleagues—on standards, culture and the issues that define our future. Make your voice count. Have your say today: www.cesvotes.com/rcs2026

But what did you make? 👀

It is an incredibly inspiring exhibition, definitely visit while you can!

@hunterianmuseum.bsky.social

In Brighton for @collegeofsurgeons.bsky.social DSTS . A fantastic course for anyone interested in major trauma, humanitarian work or operating in austere environments @asgbi.bsky.social

A group of healthcare students engaged in hands-on suturing practice using synthetic skin pads under instructor supervision.

Ready to jump-start your career? You could receive up to £1,000 towards your next surgical course 📢

Last year, our educational bursaries provided surgeons with £28,000 in funding toward their development.

Closes 16 March. For eligibility and to apply: https://ow.ly/Jyiw50YiFMs

Attention patients - the BOA has produced an update on the temporary national disruption to the supply of bone cement used in some orthopaedic procedures, including a Q&A. You can read it on our website here: https://www.boa.ac.uk/resource/patient-information-update-on-bone-cement-supply.html

Close it Quick – Ileostomy Closure QI Collaborative — Royal College of Surgeons of England Recruitment is open for Close it Quick - ileostomy Closure Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative.

⏰ Don’t miss out Registration for the Close It Quick QI Collaborative closes 28 February a crucial forum to share knowledge and improve patient care www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-an... #NBOCA #BowelCancer @natcan-news.bsky.social @collegeofsurgeons.bsky.social @hqip.bsky.social

A woman uses a laptop in a library or school environment.

Prepping for your MRCS Part B? As an affiliate member, you can access key anatomy e-books via ClinicalKey & 3D anatomy resources like Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy. They're all online & accessible 24/7 wherever you are 🖥️

Find out more: https://ow.ly/9NYk50Yf5xm

Following the global supply issue affecting the NHS’s main provider of bone cement, NHS England is hosting a webinar briefing for all orthopaedic surgeons to discuss potential alternative bone cement products.

📅 Monday 23 February 2026
🕟16.30-17.30
🔗https://ow.ly/S1Wc50Yjm9b

A woman speaks at a lecturn in the RCS England Lumley library

Two women smile for a photo

Four men smile for a photo

Too many patients wait too long for ileostomy closure. Close it Quick is our Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative supporting surgical teams across England and Wales to reduce delays through practical, data‑driven change ⭐

Applications close 28 February: https://ow.ly/eO8H50Yf8YZ

A course instructor is guiding two students wearing gowns and gloves through a hands-on suturing exercise.

Thinking about your next course? You could receive up to £1,000 through our educational bursaries. One 2025 winner shared how it “strengthened my teaching skills, boosted my confidence and covered the fees and expenses. The support was invaluable.”

Find out more and apply: https://ow.ly/IkJ850Yh04n

Twenty candidates for RCS England Council displayed in frames above voting deadline text for 9 April.

Council elections are now open.

Council members are your representatives; have your say in who best represents you. Vote by 9 April: secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/rcs20...

Heraeus Bone Cement Supply Issue
Today we have issued joint guidance with BASK, BHS and OTS. Please read the full statement below
https://ow.ly/T14q50YhLhZ

An image featuring a colourful background and the RCS England logo with 'Future of Surgery, ICC Birmingham, 20-21 April 2026' adjacent. Under this is the text 'Upskill your team. Strengthen your network; save up to 10% when you book as a group'

Missed the early bird window for our Festival?

No problem, we believe surgery is a team effort 💪 That’s why we’re offering up to 10% off when you book as a group.

Bring your colleagues and secure your spot at the forefront of surgical innovation: https://ow.ly/L7k150Yf4Xi

An image of a night sky with lanterns. The text 'Ramadan Mubarak' appears on the left side.

Ramadan Mubarak to all our members, fellows and colleagues who are observing the holy month 🌙

An article page from the Bulletin showing a DNA double helix and with the title text reading, 'How can genomic testing optimise medicines for my patients?' Authors: R Palmer and H McClay

How will genomics shape surgical care over the next decade?

Our #Bulletin explores faster cancer treatments, safer prescribing and more personalised pathways as genomics becomes routine in the NHS.

Read more: https://ow.ly/z16850Yf7Gn

Instructor assisting two students in a clinical skills lab as they practice surgical knot tying with suture materials.

Thinking about your next step in training? You could receive up to £1,000 towards a course through our educational bursaries. With multiple awards available, why not apply?

Learn more: https://ow.ly/IU2k50YcKfv

Professional portrait of a man in a suit and white shirt, announced as RCS England President Tim Lane.

Congratulations to Tim Lane, elected by surgical members and fellows as our next President - the first member‑elected President in our history 🙌

Tim takes office in July 2026 when Tim Mitchell’s term ends.

More: https://ow.ly/ZQmP50YenNF

A close up of a medical illustration of a skull, featuring the teeth

Could your #art bring new perspectives to our dental history?

The Reverend Professor Jenny Gallagher MBE Artist in Residence #Grant offers £4,000 and four weeks to explore our Library and Archives to create public facing work 🖌️

For eligibility and how to apply: https://ow.ly/8a9w50YcaEc

Our President, Tim Mitchell, spoke with Healthcare Today on the future of surgery: investment in NHS estates/IT, prep lists to support patients, and growing robotic tech.

“Solutions must be multifactorial.”

More: https://ow.ly/4xoP50YcoL8

Two women smile for a photo at an RCS England QI Collaborative event

A group of people around a table smile for a photo at an RCS England QI Collaborative event

People watch someone speak at a podium in front of a screen at an RCS England QI Collaborative event

What if every surgeon had timely, peer‑led support after an adverse event? Our SUPPORT collaborative has already helped teams foster stronger compassion, better culture & real confidence. SUPPORT2 builds on this, helping more Trusts embed the approach. Closes 28 February: https://ow.ly/Avut50Y9jrO

A page from the Annals showing a rocket blasting off. The title text reads: 'Can surgery learn from NASA's leadership and safety?' Authors: O Al-Gholmy, M Davidson, ES Brennan, R Kerstein, and PA Brennan

What happens when surgery adapts NASA’s approach to leadership and safety?

Our #Annals explores how NASA’s shift from fixing isolated errors to understanding the conditions that allow them to occur can help strengthen safety and teamwork in operating theatres 🚀

Blast off: https://ow.ly/af8850Y80Z4

Court upholds return of Oxford surgeon who harassed colleagues James Gilbert, who was based in Oxford, was previously suspended for sexual harassment.

Reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment in the James Gilbert case, our VP, Prof Vivien Lees said: “Staff targeted by James Gilbert’s behaviour will feel disappointed by today’s Court of Appeal judgment.”

More from the BBC: https://ow.ly/MM1q50Y9WsN

So I'm going to be on the panel for this, alongside Dr Michael Brady, who will be discussing relevant findings from his National LGBT+ Health Report, and our anaesthetic colleague Dr Medlock who will be talking about the potential impacts on inclusive peri-op care.