Episode 30: Knot to be Missed - The RCOG surgical skills podcast | Knot alone

Are the challenges facing surgical trainees unique to O&G, or is the grass really greener in general surgery?

In this episode, Hannah and Naomi are joined by Mr Raiyyan Aftab, Immediate Past President of the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) and a General Surgical Trainee in Plastic Surgery, to explore the shared realities of surgical training across the UK. Together, they discuss the findings of the ASiT State of Training report, the increasing pressures of service provision, reduced operative exposure, and the balance between training and service delivery. The conversation explores whether the challenges identified through the RCOG Surgical Skills Project are unique to O&G or shared across the wider surgical community, and how organisations such as ASiT and the RCOG can work together to improve surgical education and support the next generation of surgeons. This episode is essential listening for trainees, trainers, education leads, and anyone with an interest in the future of surgical training.