931 Core Surgical Training; a Postcode Lottery?

Background Core Surgical Training (CST) is a national training programme. The curriculum provides surgical trainees with the generic professional and specialty-specific capabilities needed to become higher surgical trainees (HST). However, despite it being nationally approved, the provision of the curriculum is decided at a local level, leading to inconsistencies and variability. The aim of this study was to understand the delivery of training in each deanery in the UK Method Two custom prospective surveys were electronically distributed to all CST TPDs. The surveys included a combined total of 40 questions, tailored to collect specific data on the local teaching programme and future improvements they would like to see. Results There was 91% response rate. There were substantial variations in regional training. The number of trainees in each region is wide-ranging from 10 to 65 (Median 52, IQR 40). 0/11 regions met all 6 of the JCST quality criteria. 4 regions (36%) met 5 of the criteria. 1 region met only 2 of the 6. 100% of deaneries offered extra mandatory teaching sessions locally, over and above the national teaching programme delivered by CST Hub. 66% of these extra sessions are delivered online. 7/11(60%) of TPDs felt greater standardisation of delivery of CST across the country is needed to improve equity of training. Conclusions There is considerable unwarranted variation in CST across England & Wales. Our study suggests not all training opportunities are equal and that trainees are subject to a disadvantage from an early stage in training. Further work is needed to address this.