Upcoming events

Overview: The Basic Laparoscopic Course is a hands-on training programme designed to build confidence and refine core technical skills in laparoscopic surgery. It is structured to support both early-stage and progressing surgical trainees by offering a safe and supportive environment for practice outside of the operating theatre.

Stations:

• Basic Laparoscopic Surgical Skills
• Laparoscopic Appendicectomy
• Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
• Laparoscopic Suturing

Fee: £650

Contact: ankita.kulkarni2@nhs.net or atiya.hameedullah@nhs.net

Booking: The Lap Lab tickets

CPD Points: 7

Overview: A one-and-a-half-day (half-day lecture, full-day hands-on) intensive course at The Griffin Institute focusing on robotic right hemicolectomy and intracorporeal anastomosis. Surgeons will advance their skills through expert-led hands-on training.

Dates: 

• 26-27 August 2026

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price:

• Surgeons: £1925 (ALSGBI, EAES and Dukes' Club Members will get a £175 discount)
• Observers: £300

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website:

• Robotic Right Hemicolectomy and Intracorporeal Anastomosis Course - The Griffin Institute
• Robotic Right Hemicolectomy and Intracorporeal Anastomosis Course OBSERVERS - The Griffin Institute

Overview: Aimed at surgical trainees who have an interest in robotic surgery. The generic skills covered in this course will be useful for many specialties. Formative feedback will be offered throughout, with a series of summative assessments at the end of the course.

Target audience: Surgical Trainees interested in robotic surgery.

Dates: 

• 21-24 April 2026
• 2-5 June 2026
• 14-17 July 2026
• 18-21 August 2026
• 29 September - 2 October 2026
• 10-13 November 2026
• 8-11 December 2026

The course includes: 

• System information (Xi), docking, targeting anatomy, communication, instrument insertion, undocking
• Fundamental skills rehearsal with VR simulation, surgeon console and physical tasks (dry lab)
• Skills development and wet lab
• Final VR and console tasks, knowledge and skills assessment

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £2570 (ALSGBI members will get a £150 discount)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Robotic Driving Licence - The Griffin Institute

Overview: A two-day course covering basic robotic skills for GI surgery. Delegates will benefit most from this event if they are in a position to consolidate their robotic skills when they return to their own clinical setting.

Target audience: Surgical Trainees and Consultants who want basic experience of robotic surgery.

Dates:

• 20-21 May 2026
• 1-2 July 2026
• 12-13 August 2026
• 23-24 September 2026
• 4-5 November 2026
• 2-3 December 2026

The course will include:

• pre-course learning
• system information (Da Vinci consoles)
• docking and undocking
• set up and basic manipulation exercises
• robotic dissection skills
• non-technical skills
• troubleshooting
• emergency undocking
• robotic suturing/anastomosis exercises

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £1300 (ALSGBI members will get a £100 discount)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Basic Robotic Skills Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: Intensive hands-on course for experienced colorectal surgeons. Focus on TME and Splenic Flexure using robotic technology. Two candidates per robot.

Target audience: 

• ST7/ST8
• Post CCT Fellows
• New Consultants

Dates: 

• 15-16 April 2026
• 7-8 October 2026

Learning objectives

• Understand robotic TME and understand strategies for splenic flexure mobilisation and transverse colon.
• Identify key anatomical landmarks.
• Apply robotic techniques for precision and outcomes.
• Manage intraoperative challenges.
• Gain confidence in da Vinci Xi use

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £2100 (Dukes' Club and ALSGBI members will get a £200 discount.)

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Advanced Colorectal Robotic Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: This course is designed for surgeons to enhance their skills in upper gastrointestinal robotic surgery. It offers lectures and hands-on training in robotic techniques, with experienced faculty offering tips and guidance for surgical techniques.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the fundamentals of upper gastrointestinal robotic surgery
• Apply proficiency in instruments and system operation
• Employ advanced techniques to perform complex upper gastrointestinal robotic procedures.
• Includes benign (including bariatric, cholecystectomy, and Hiatal Hernia repair) and malignant UGI resections (esophagectomy and gastrectomy), tailored to participants’ specific interests.
• Short video presentations of all procedures.

• Senior trainees/fellows who finished or about to finish training
• Consultants in their early robotic career
• UK-based or international
• Had completed basic robotic training
• Had experience in performing complex/advanced upper GI surgeries.
• Please send us your CV along with details of your robotic experience.

Venue: The Griffin Institute, Watford Road, Y Block, Harrow, HA1 3UJ 

Price: £1750

Contact: courses@griffininstitute.org.uk or 0203 958 0500

Website: Advanced Upper Gastrointestinal Robotic Surgery Course - The Griffin Institute

Overview: This is a one and a half day course with a full day of hands-on training in the cadaver lab. 

Aims: 

• Overview of endoluminal tips and tricks in managing ureteric strictures and obstruction.
• Hands-on training in the insertion and removal of various metal ureteric stents.
• Understanding the indications, complications and latest literature review of metal stent use.
• Ureteroscopic laser stricuroplasty and balloon dilatation of ureteric strictures.
• Review of alternative options for ureteric obstruction including extra-anatomical scents.

Target audience: Senior urology trainees, urology consultants 

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview: This course is designed for trainees in hand surgery (orthopaedics and plastics) irrespective of experience in K-wiring.

Learn the sure and proper way of k-wiring and you will not need to do an ORIF ever again, saving you operating time and money. Also, understand fluoroscopy and how to use it safely.

This is a hands-on course, first with dry bones and then with cadaveric hands. Understand and practise k-wiring without the pressure of time.

Aims: 

• Technique of k-wiring
• Understanding fluoroscopy
• Complications
• Understand why k-wires get infected or loose and how to reduce complications
• Advantages and disadvantages of k-wiring

Target audience: Trainees in Plastics and Orthopaedics

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Overview: The course is designed to facilitate the surgeon with didactic and hands on cadaveric training experience. Conducted by a faculty of experienced surgeons, this is an intensive two day course of lectures, debate, exchange and practical hands on experience on colorectal procedures using an XI Da Vinci Robot.

Aims and objectives: 

• Become familiar with the function and working of the Da Vinci system
• Understand the selection process, positioning, docking and buttonology of the Da Vinci robotic system
• Basic skills for robotic console surgery
• Develop skills for robotic colorectal resection.

Target audience: Senior Colorectal Trainees and Consultants

Price: £1600

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Contact: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net and 0191 2138628

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre - NSTC - Robotic Colorectal Course

Aims and objectives: 

• Become familiar with the function and operation of the Da Vinci Surgical System
• Appreciate the ergonomics of the Da Vinci Surgical system robot and the available robotic instrumentation
• Perform the standard primary TORS procedure on cadaveric simulation
• Understand the relevant TORS anatomy
• Define the role of TORS in current day and head and neck cancer patients
• Understand the benefits and rationale of offering a transoral resection service
• Gain an insight into the pathological assessment of transoral resections
• Understand the adjuvant treatment and schedule following transoral surgery.

Target audience: Trainees ST5 - ST8 and Consultants

Price: £1600

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

Contact: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net and 0191 2138628

Overview: This course has been designed to maximise hands-on operating time, allowing every delegate to perform every procedure under direct supervision in a unique intensive series of practical surgical cadaveric workshops. In addition, faculty will provide didactic lectures, an open forum and case-based discussions.

Practical sessions:

• Tracheostomy
• Thyroid lobectomy
• External pharyngeal pouch surgery
• Submandibular gland surgery
• Neck dissection
• Parotidectomy
• Laryngectomy / TEP
• Mandibulotomy
• Maxillectomy
• Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap
• Deltopectoral flap
• Fibula osteocutaneous free flap
• Radial forearm free flap

Target audience: Trainees ST3 - ST8 and consultants

Fee: £1350

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Contact: nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net and 0191 2138628

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre - National Head and Neck Course 

Course includes: 

• Anatomy
• Assessment
• Closed approach
• Open approach
• Osteotomy
• Nasal grafts
• Conchal grafts
• Rib grafts
• Tip surgery
• Extracorporeal septoplasty
• Face lift/brow lift
• Local facial flaps
• Otoplasty
• Ethnic noses (Alar base reductions)
• Nasal reconstruction

Target audience: ST3 - ST8, Consultants, Career Grade Doctors wishing to upgrade their skills.

Fee: £1525

Venue: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Contact:

• 0191 2138628
• nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre - Septorhinoplasty and facial plastics cadaveric course

Overview: This is a 2‑day course featuring hands‑on, live‑patient operating under the direct supervision of the Consultant Faculty.

From mastering safe laparoscopic port placement and selecting the right mesh and fixation devices to confidently performing TEP or TAPP repairs, this course provides real‑world experience, expert guidance, and the chance to tackle challenging scenarios head-on.

Eligibility criteria:

Day 1 delegates

FY1 and above.

Full delegates

• General Surgery ST7 or above.
• Middle grade (LED), General Surgery, with four years and experience as middle grade.
• Able to perform Lap. Appendicectomy and Lap. Cholecystectomy (Parkland Grade 1 & 2, SCS grade <8).

There is space for 9 full delegates and 15 day 1 delegates.

Fees:

• Full delegates (two days, including hands-on training): £700
• Day delegates (day one only): £100

Register:

Register for the McEvedy Laparoscopic Groin Hernia Repair Course