The Confederation of British Surgery: a trade union for surgeons

John Macfie,Nigel Mercer,Michael Foy,Tony Narula

doi:10.1308/rcsbull.2018.86

Abstract

For the first time, a trade union body has been created specifically to serve the surgical community.

Highlights

The declared aim of the Confederation of British Surgery (CBS) is to look after the professional and employment interests of surgeons and their teams, irrespective of surgical royal college or surgical specialty association affiliation
The CBS would be able to involve itself in matters relating to terms and conditions of service, contracts of employment, litigation, insurance and other matters from which the surgical royal colleges and the numerous surgical specialty associations are excluded on the basis of their charitable status and the ‘public benefit’ concept remit that entails
The CBS is emphatically and not in competition with the surgical royal colleges or surgical specialty associations, because these have remits relating to clinical standards, education and membership activities and are not permitted to act, in any way, as trade unions

Summary

Introduction

For the first time there will be an organisation, a trade union, recognised in UK law and committed exclusively to surgeons and their related teams and families. The declared aim of the CBS is to look after the professional and employment interests of surgeons and their teams, irrespective of surgical royal college or surgical specialty association affiliation. The CBS is emphatically and not in competition with the surgical royal colleges or surgical specialty associations, because these have remits relating to clinical standards, education and membership activities and are not permitted to act, in any way, as trade unions.

Results

Conclusion