Specialist Advisory Committee
Frequently asked questions
Click on the tabs below to reveal the relevant information.
A. SAC stands for Specialist Advisory Committee. The SAC is a subcommittee of the JCST (Joint Committee on Surgical Training) which oversees training in all surgical specialities, on behalf of the four Royal Colleges of Surgery. Each subspecialty (e.g. Paediatric Surgery) has its own SAC which oversees training in that specialty.
The role of the SAC includes:
o Setting standards for the specialist training of surgeons, on behalf of the certifying authority, the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB);
o Working with the Deaneries to establish MMC training programmes;
o Recommending trainees for the award of the CCT/ CESR;
o Working on curriculum development for surgical training;
o Providing advice to Regional Postgraduate Deans via their respective Regional Training Committees;
o Providing advice and guidance to trainees and trainers and supporting the network of Programme Directors;
o Making recommendations regarding training posts/programme standards;
o Evaluating Article 14 applications on behalf of PMETB for those who wish to be considered for GMC Specialist Registration.
A. Each region is represented by an SAC liaison member who oversees training in that region. SAC members are all NHS consultants in your specialty who are committed to training and have an in-depth knowledge of the training system.
A. The role of SAC liaison member includes:
o Liaising with the postgraduate dean, training programme directors, chair of STC, trainers and trainees;
o Attending RITA/ARCPs;
o Helping to resolve local problems with trainees;
o Supporting the local STC (Specialist Training Committee);
o Helping with deanery led quality management systems;
o Reporting to SAC from visits to training centres and RITA/ARCPs.
A. You can contact your SAC liaison member if you feel there is an aspect of your training that should be brought to the attention of the SAC. In general, your first poisnt of contact would be your Educational supervisor, but the SAC liaison members are also available as an external, independent advisor.
A. There is an SAC liaison member for each training region. The table below shows who the current liaison member is for each region. You can contact them by email in the first instance, or by post.
|
Region |
SAC Liaison member |
Contact |
|
Belfast/Dublin |
Rowena Hitchcock |
|
|
Bristol/Cardiff/Birmingham
|
Paul Losty Graham Lamont |
|
|
London
|
Graham Haddock Alan Dickson |
|
|
Mersey / NW |
Martin Barrett |
|
|
Yorkshire / Trent |
Mark Davenport |
|
|
Scotland |
Azad Najmaldin |
|
|
Urology |
Pat Malone |
A. There is an excellent document on this webpage which explains what to do and who to contact if you have a problem with your training. In summary, you should usually contact your educational supervisor first, but if you have a problem that you cannot talk to your educational supervisor about, the next point of contact is the SAC liaison member (ref. to table).
Any questions?
Please contact your friendly national trainee representative by email
(c.rees@ich.ucl.ac.uk | iyardley@doctors.org.uk).
Guidance 
Trainers in Paediatric Surgery
Trainees in Paediatric Surgery
Postgraduate Deans
Heads of Schools of Surgery
Members of the SAC in Paediatric Surgery
Dear Colleagues,
SAC in Paediatric Surgery - Workplace Based Assessments (WBAs)
When the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme was first launched, the number of WBAs in surgery required to provide evidence of progress to inform the ARCP was specifically set for the first two years of training:
The number required for years 3-8 was less clearly defined. In years 4 and 7, a further Mini-PAT was required. The only other stipulation was that at least 4 PBAs should be completed each year in years 3-8.
It has become clear that the number and type of WBAs required in years 3-8 is insufficient to allow adequate assessment for learning purposes and as an assessment of progress for the ARCP. Most STCs and Training Programme Directors in Paediatric Surgery have required trainees in years 3-8 to undertake a variable number of the various assessments outlined in the table above.
In early 2009, the ISCP website was updated to try to offer more clarity about the type and number of WBAs required for each year of training. The ISCP website now stipulates the following:
The breadth and scope of Paediatric Surgery, at all levels, makes it difficult to see how trainees and trainers are going to be able to complete the required number of WBAs outlined above for every procedure that trainees might be expected to undertake. This is a particular issue for the SDOPs and PBAs which require a monthly assessment for each commonly performed procedure.
The number of PBAs in Paediatric Surgery now on the ISCP website has increased considerably in the past few months. This allows us to take a more structured approach to WBA assessments than has previously been the case.
The SAC in Paediatric Surgery has now decided to offer clear instruction and guidance on the number and type of WBAs that require to be completed at each stage in training in our specialty.
The following proposal was approved by the SAC in Paediatric Surgery at its meeting on 3rd September 2009 and should be implemented immediately.
Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Graham Haddock
Chair, SAC in Paediatric Surgery
Specialist Advisory Committee in Paediatric Surgery Workplace Based Assessments
Number and types of WBA to be completed each year by trainees in Paediatric Surgery
The minimum number and type of WBAs in Paediatric Surgery to be completed by trainees in Paediatric Surgery for the period September 2009 until end July 2010 (or October 2009 to September 2010 where rotations deviate from an August start) is:
ST1 and ST2 (run-through) or CT1-3 (Early Years Training or Core) – for each 12 month period in Paediatric Surgery at that level
For years ST3 to ST8 it is recommended that each PBA undertaken should be done at least twice in each two year block (and preferably, if at all possible, in one year). This will allow trainees and trainers to determine whether progress in operative skill has been achieved. An indicative list of procedures for each of the three two year blocks of training from ST3 is appended below. Clearly, if a trainee is working in a team where there is a lot of Urology experience, it makes sense to complete the PBAs in the Urology section etc.
While the separation of procedures in the table below is indicative, it is not meant to be exclusive. In other words, it is not unreasonable for a trainee to undertake a PBA in a procedure that is allocated for a level of training above their level, if the trainer thinks they are ready to be assessed.
Trainees and trainers are reminded that:
• PBAs in particular should be completed in the majority of cases by Consultant colleagues, although more senior trainee colleagues can be asked on occasion to complete a PBA for a trainee
• The request to complete a PBA should be made before the start of the operative case and not at the end. Trainers should refuse to complete a PBA if the request is made after the procedure has been completed
• All PBAs and other WBAs should be validated on the ISCP website by the assessor as soon as possible after completion
• Given the number of WBAs now to be completed at every training level, trainees should not expect Consultant and other colleagues to undertake all of these assessments in the three weeks before the ARCP is scheduled! You must plan to undertake WBA throughout the 12 months of the training year.
• Failure to complete the minimum number of WBAs outlined in this document by the time of the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) will result in the issuing of an unsatisfactory ARCP outcome (outcome 2 or 3).
• These requirements apply equally to trainees in LAT or other approved training posts
Review Period: August 2008 to July 2009
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