A constant focus on patient care

< BACK

Professor Phil Turner
Chair, RCSEd Professional Standards Committee

P rofessional standards can be defined as the knowledge, practices, skills, ethics and qualifications set out by a body representing a particular discipline. Within any profession, the standards are interconnected and interdependent. They are a constant and consistent theme running through all aspects of the work of the College.

Since our foundation in 1505, the core activity of the College has been the improvement of patient care by continuously raising the standards of surgical practice. We are proud of the historical advances the RCSEd has helped develop and promote, and acknowledge the innovations of our Fellows and Members.

Quality control

The very reason the College exists is to maintain and raise standards. This takes many forms, whether it is awarding globally respected surgical and dental qualifications, delivering transformative and effective education, or accrediting external trainers who provide activities that align with our values.

Based in the College’s Birmingham centre, the Professional Standards Office (PSO) is fundamental to these objectives, as we oversee a range of activities that are aimed at improving the quality of the College’s work as well as overall standards of surgical care.

This is achieved in a variety of ways, from devising standards for College assessments, training and training programmes to supporting remediation.

The PSO plays a key part in external engagement so that we can support and influence medical regulators, NHS inspectors, Trusts and health boards, NHS policymakers and medical educators. For instance, the PSO provides NHS Trusts and heath boards with trained RCSEd assessors to participate in consultant appointment panels. Similarly, it also offers specialist input into Deanery inspections.

Through the PSO, the College undertakes invited reviews of surgical performance throughout the UK, evaluating and advising on a range of topics from individual and team performance to how best to configure surgical services. Through this important work, we advise NHS organisations on improvements they can make and work with them to implement practical changes using a suite of interventions designed and delivered by the College.

We also actively work with organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to develop clinical guidelines. Indeed, we are currently working with NHS England as it develops new standards around surgical facilities and helping shape UK government policy that will offer provisional registration for overseas qualified dentists.

Shaping standards

As we collaborate closely with the College’s Patient Safety Group, we ensure that all the activities in which we participate maintain a focus on patients and their needs.

Professional standards are at the heart of what the RCSEd does, and we constantly review and evaluate surgical standards to ensure they retain their quality and enhance the College’s reputation nationally and internationally.

We encourage those with an interest in shaping and implementing standards to do so, with the PSO providing structured training and ongoing support. We would be delighted to hear from you at standardsoffice@rcsed.ac.uk