Royal College of Surgeons Meeting 2024

On 24 July 2024 the Master, Senior Warden, Chair of Charity and the Clerk met with senior members of the Royal College of Surgeons and 5 recipients of Needlemakers bursaries. Needlemakers have supported the college for over 15 years. 

These training bursaries come at a critical time in a surgeon’s career. There is a two-year foundation training during which time they make the decision to specialise in surgery. There are many milestones with a considerable portfolio to complete to give them the ability to determine in which direction they wish to go.

Most bursary awardees are trying to build up their skills so it is a strategic time. Financially it is also a tricky time as they will still be paying off student debt at the same time as moving out of student accommodation. Courses are expensive even though the faculty give their time for free there are venue costs, equipment etc. There is no uniform allowance for study and in some regions it doesn’t even cover one course.

Even if the study budget exists the fees must be paid upfront and are not reimbursed till some months later. If the course fee is lower than the bursary the extra funding goes towards travel and accommodation.

The College has streamlined the application process for all bursaries so that there is now a single application process – there were 30 different ones this year of which 12 were Needlemakers which will give Liverymen an idea of the importance of our support. The judging panel has a representative from each of the specialities so that the smaller specialty areas are not devalued. Our awardees are studying in different fields including trauma (special skills needed for emergency trauma), cardio thoracic, liver cancer, maxillo-facial surgery and neurosurgery.

What was notable is that the College is focusing on engaging applicants from a more diverse range of backgrounds and now includes a section on ethics and motivation in the application process. We were impressed by the very varied backgrounds of the winners, their dedication and some of the obstacles they had to overcome. Each made a brief presentation, and all expressed their gratitude for the bursary and the difference it had made to their training. Another benefit of the bursary is that many of the courses are oversubscribed so the bursary winners are guaranteed a place!

 

PM Pamela Goldberg