Time spent in theatre predicts training opportunities and progression for core surgical trainees

Abstract

Operative skills are the defining attribute of a surgeon. Traditional surgical training encourages trainees to take every opportunity to spend time observing and assisting in the operating theatre. There is an impression that the time constraints of working schedules, the breakdown of the traditional consultant team and the structured approach adopted by the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) have discouraged trainees from spending time in the operating theatre outside of explicit training sessions.