Phase 1
Establishing the current baseline of surgical skills training in O&G, changing trends in operating practices and establishing potential solutions.
Overview of the project
The RCOG is leading a three-year initiative to strengthen obstetric and gynaecology (O&G) surgical training in the UK and beyond. As demand for O&G services continues to grow, ensuring a well-trained and fully supported workforce is more critical than ever.
Access to high-quality surgical training opportunities is a vital part of the UK training programmes, yet many RCOG members and trainees report challenges in meeting Stage 1, 2, and 3 surgical training competencies. These challenges impact workforce readiness and service delivery, highlighting the urgent need for improved training pathways.
The O&G Surgical Skills Project aims to tackle issues impacting current training provision and shape the future of surgical training. The ambition is to ensure surgical training and standards support the O&G workforce to provide high-quality, evidence-based care now and in the future.
Reports and publications
'Knot to be missed': the RCOG surgical skills podcast
Join clinical fellows Hannah Pierce and Naomi Harvey as they explore the challenges, and solutions, shaping the future of O&G surgical training. Each episode looks at one of the focus areas from the Surgical Skills Interim Report, sparking discussion on solutions and what's next.
O&G Surgical Skills Interim Report
The O&G Surgical Skills Interim Report takes an honest look at the current state of surgical training in the O&G specialty. It sets out five key areas for change and improvement as we move into Phase 2 of the Surgical Skills Project.
Phase 2 Report
This report provides an update on the Interim Report, highlighting progress made in Phase 2 and plans for advancing the project over the next 12 months.
What's next?
Launching in January 2026, Phase 3 marks the transition from design to delivery. Its purpose is to embed the outcomes of Phase 2 into practical, implementable structures, ensuring that doctors across the UK benefit from consistent, high-quality surgical training.
To achieve this, the recommendations from the Phase 2 workstreams have been consolidated and reorganised into a set of targeted thematic workstreams. These themes bring together related areas of activity, allowing the project to focus on coordinated, efficient delivery.