Surgery plays a vital role in the treatment of many cancers, and the skills and expertise of the surgical workforce are central to delivering high-quality cancer care.
For surgeons approaching the end of their specialist training, the transition to consultant practice represents a significant step. Alongside the clinical knowledge and technical skills developed throughout their training, they must be prepared to take on greater responsibility for complex procedures, surgical decision-making and the care of patients.
Access to focused, practical training at this stage can help surgeons consolidate their experience and prepare for the demands of independent consultant practice.
Moondance Cancer Initiative is funding the development of a Surgical Oncology Finishing School in Wales, creating a dedicated opportunity for senior surgical trainees to build on their existing experience as they approach the transition to consultant roles.
Preparing for consultant practice
Developed in collaboration with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and surgical leaders from across NHS Wales, the Finishing School will bring together senior surgical trainees and experienced consultant surgeons from specialties involved in cancer care.
The course will combine focused teaching with practical, cadaver-based training, providing opportunities to revisit important surgical anatomy, practise relevant operative approaches and techniques, and learn directly from experienced faculty.
The content is being shaped around the needs of surgeons nearing completion of their specialist training, with a particular emphasis on open surgical procedures and practical experience relevant to their future consultant practice.
The first Finishing School is planned for June 2027 in Cardiff, bringing together trainees and faculty from across Wales.
Establishing a lasting training opportunity in Wales
The ambition extends beyond delivering a single course. Moondance Cancer Initiative is working with clinical leaders and HEIW to explore how the Finishing School could become a recurring part of the surgical training offer in Wales.
The first course will provide an opportunity to test the training model, gather feedback from participants and faculty, and identify how future courses could be developed to meet the needs of successive groups of senior surgical trainees.
Through this investment, Moondance Cancer Initiative aims to support the development of Wales's future consultant surgical workforce, helping ensure surgeons are well prepared for the responsibilities of consultant practice and the delivery of high-quality cancer care.