MSc Surgical Care Practice

This innovative Masters degree is suitable for qualified registered practitioners who have been appointed as a trainee surgical care practitioner within a surgical directorate. Your role should incorporate the delivery of care and clincal skills within all phases of surgical care, particularly pre-, peri-, intra- and post-operative care.

You will be provided with a systematic and critical understanding of the breadth and depth of knowledge within specific areas of practice. You will develop core and specialist surgical skills and extend your knowledge and practice within the surgical care environment. This will include some operative procedures that will enable specialist practitioners to provide continuity of service and standards of care to patients in areas which do not necessarily need to be provided by medically qualified staff. The programme aims to help you to become a competent and capable surgical care practitioner equipped to deliver high quality outcomes for patients in the UK. On successful completion of the programme you will have demonstrated the capabilities required by the RCS.

Eleven specialist pathways are available:

• MSc Surgical Care Practice (Cardiothoracic Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (General Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Gynaecology Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Neurosurgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Otorhinolaryngology Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Robot Assisted Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Urology) MSc Surgical Care Practice (Vascular Surgery)

Your future career

On completion of this programme, you will gain a nationally recognised qualification that enables you to undertake the advanced role of a surgical care practitioner.

You will also be able to demonstrate a number of core and specialist skills that will enable you to work effectively as part of the extended surgical team, work competently to practice within your surgical speciality and to be able to function confidently, competently and autonomously.

To join this MSc, you must be a registered healthcare practitioner employed in a suitable working environment. The minimum requirement is a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) in a health or social care related subject, with evidence of at least 18 months post-registration experience. If you do not have a degree at 2:2 or above but have been employed as a trainee surgical care practitioner, you may still be able to gain entry to the programme if you can demonstrate evidence of study at undergraduate level (minimum 20 credits at Level 6) within the last two years. It is anticipated that all students joining this programme will have extensive subject knowledge or work experience in their chosen field as all of the assessments involve the relation of theory to practice. An interview will form part of the selection process. You must provide written approval from your organisation to confirm that they support you joining the programme, while a surgical supervisor in practice must be identified to support your surgical skills development. You will need to be employed as a trainee surgical care practitioner on a supernumerary basis for the duration of the programme.