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Basic Surgical Skills (BSS)

The Basic Surgical Skills course is your gateway to mastering essential techniques to kick-start your career in surgery. Over two transformative days, you’ll gain hands-on experience in suturing, knot-tying and tissue handling. These skills will help you make the most of your time in theatre and move confidently towards your career goals.  

This course is worth 16 CPD points

Membership discounts apply on all courses held at the Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London). Members receive a 20% discount worth £169.80 on BSS courses. Please go to booking options for details. Explore our membership options.

Where can I attend BSS?

BSS courses are delivered at The Bjorn Saven Centre (RCS England London) and centres in the UK and internationally. See below for upcoming course dates and locations.

  • £679.20
  • 2 days
  • 16.00 CPD Points
£679.20
2 days
16.00 CPD Points

Learning Outcomes

Why take this course?

  • Get ahead in your Core Surgical Training interviews and MRCS Part B exams with practical skills that will set you apart. 
  • Boost your confidence in theatre. 
  • Align your skillset with the GMC Capabilities in Practice Framework and the Foundation Curriculum High-Level Outcomes  

What you'll gain:

  • Day 1: Build a strong foundation with essential techniques like knot-tying, instrument handling, and suturing, plus practical skills like skin lesion removal, ligation/transfixion, and tissue handling. 
  • Day 2: Push your skills further with advanced techniques in assisted abdominal closure, vascular surgery, tendon repair, and an introduction to endoscopic surgery. 

After attending this course, you'll be able to:

  • demonstrate safe operating techniques;
  • use a variety of surgical knots safely and effectively;
  • confidently handle and use surgical instruments;
  • handle tissues confidently with due regard to their unique properties;
  • use endoscopic instruments in a practical and safe way;
  • discuss the practical, safe use of electrosurgery. 

Suitability

This course is suitable for FY1-2 and CT1-2. It is also open to surgical first assistants, and anyone in training for those roles. 

SCPs may attend the BSS course to meet the syllabus requirements for Intraoperative Skills.  

Format

BSS is a practical, workshop-led course. Each skill is introduced with a step-by-step demonstration before participants practice the technique. Many centres use a variety of porcine and ovine/maleagrine tissues although some choose to use synthetic tissue. Please check with the centre in advance if this is a concern for you. The Bjorn Saven Centre at RCS England uses animal tissue. 

You will participate in a variety of practical training sessions during the BSS course, including: 

  • gowning, gloving, laying safe surgical knots and local anaesthetic management; 
  • tissue handling practice (including for infected and contaminated tissues), along with the requirements for differing tissue sites, such as skin, bowel or vessels; 
  • electrosurgery device usage; 
  • manipulation of endoscopic instruments in a 3D surgical environment while viewing a remote 2D image; 
  • visuospatial awareness, management of depth cueing and control of the ‘fulcrum effect’ during endoscopic surgery. 

You will receive continual feedback and assessment throughout the two days. 

Before the course, you will have access to the BSS handbook and our online learning platform, where you can view the BSS videos, other supporting materials and do the MCQs. This essential pre-course material will ensure you get the most out of every session.  

View the full BSS programme

Additional Information

If you’re undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Surgery, you will be awarded 4 credits upon taking this course. The inclusion of courses in the PGCert in Surgery is subject to availability. 

Interested in becoming BSS faculty? Find out more about teaching on our courses.  

Booking Options

Regional BSS Courses

Wed
02
Jul
2025
-
Thu
03
Jul
2025
£610
Colchester General Hospital

02 Jul 2025
-
03 Jul 2025

£610

Pricing notes:

Full price: £610

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Colchester General Hospital

Location:

Colchester General Hospital
Turner Road
COLCHESTER
CO4 5JL
United Kingdom
sarah.wilby@esneft.nhs.uk
01206 746007

Instructions:

Ms S Wilby, sarah.wilby@esneft.nhs.uk, 01206 746007
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Fully Booked

Pricing notes:

Full price: £610

Fully Booked

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Ms S Wilby
sarah.wilby@esneft.nhs.uk
mailto:sarah.wilby@esneft.nhs.uk

Book online

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Mon
07
Jul
2025
-
Tue
08
Jul
2025
£650
Royal Surrey County Hospital

07 Jul 2025
-
08 Jul 2025

£650

Pricing notes:

Full price: £650

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Royal Surrey County Hospital

Location:

Royal Surrey County Hospital
Egerton Road
GUILDFORD
GU2 7XX
United Kingdom
asnook@nhs.net
07703547811

Instructions:

Mrs A Snook, asnook@nhs.net, 07703547811
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Booking details

Limited

Pricing notes:

Full price: £650

Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:

Have an account?
Please login Please login
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Register to continue

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Mrs A Snook
asnook@nhs.net
http://www.mattu.org.uk

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Fri
25
Jul
2025
-
Sat
26
Jul
2025
£600
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

25 Jul 2025
-
26 Jul 2025

£600

Pricing notes:

Full price: £600

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Location:

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
HULL
HU3 2JZ
United Kingdom
janine.peck1@nhs.net
01482 816672

Instructions:

Ms J Peck, janine.peck1@nhs.net, 01482 816672, Please call to 01482816672 to make the payment for the course
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Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: £600

Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:

Have an account?
Please login Please login
Not got an account?
Register to continue

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Ms J Peck
janine.peck1@nhs.net
mailto:janine.peck1@nhs.net

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RCS England Bjorn Saven Centre

Mon
14
Jul
2025
-
Tue
15
Jul
2025
from £679.20
LONDON, United Kingdom

14 Jul 2025
-
15 Jul 2025

from £679.20

Pricing notes:

Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

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Wed
16
Jul
2025
-
Thu
17
Jul
2025
from £679.20
LONDON, United Kingdom

16 Jul 2025
-
17 Jul 2025

from £679.20

Pricing notes:

Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

Book online

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Continue to Booking
Fri
18
Jul
2025
-
Sat
19
Jul
2025
from £679.20
LONDON, United Kingdom

18 Jul 2025
-
19 Jul 2025

from £679.20

Pricing notes:

Full price: £849.00
RCS Affiliates: £679.20
RCS England Associates: £679.20
RCS England Members/Fellows: £679.20

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

Book online

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International BSS Courses

Fri
22
Aug
2025
-
Sat
23
Aug
2025
INR 25000/-
Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS)

22 Aug 2025
-
23 Aug 2025

INR 25000/-

Pricing notes:

Full price: INR 25000/-

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS)

Location:

Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS)
Senapati Bapat Road
PUNE 411004
India
drparag@sihspune.org
91 9822040971

Instructions:

Dr P Rishipathak, drparag@sihspune.org, 91 9822040971, For registrations, please visit: www.schs.edu.in For further queries please contact: Dr Shrimathy Vijayaraghavan Mob: +91-9029279349/ Email id: pgdems@schs.edu.in/smoic@schs.edu.in
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Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: INR 25000/-

Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:

Have an account?
Please login Please login
Not got an account?
Register to continue

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Dr P Rishipathak
drparag@sihspune.org
https://schs.edu.in/assets/pdf/2023/BSS_Poster.pdf

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Fri
22
Aug
2025
-
Sat
23
Aug
2025
700 $
Al-Nabad Company for Training and Rehabilitation of Human Resources Ltd

22 Aug 2025
-
23 Aug 2025

700 $

Pricing notes:

Full price: 700 $

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Al-Nabad Company for Training and Rehabilitation of Human Resources Ltd

Location:

Al Jaderia Private Hospital / Pulse Training Company
Floor 2, Building 15
BAHGAD
Iraq
rcs-info@pulse-itc.com
00964 7713934455

Instructions:

Dr Layth Alnemy, rcs-info@pulse-itc.com, 00964 7713934455
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Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: 700 $

Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:

Have an account?
Please login Please login
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Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Dr Layth Alnemy
rcs-info@pulse-itc.com
https://forms.gle/PAYjDfpBHr9MChtJA

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Fri
10
Oct
2025
-
Sat
11
Oct
2025
INR 25000
MGM Medical College

10 Oct 2025
-
11 Oct 2025

INR 25000

Pricing notes:

Full price: INR 25000

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

MGM Medical College

Location:

MGM Medical College & Hospital
Sector 1, Kamothe
NAVI MUMBAI- 410209
India
skillslabnm@mgmmcnm.edu.in
91 9820643638

Instructions:

Mr Nitesh Kadam, skillslabnm@mgmmcnm.edu.in, 91 9820643638
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Booking details

Pricing notes:

Full price: INR 25000

Before booking at the centre, please follow these steps:

Have an account?
Please login Please login
Not got an account?
Register to continue

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Mr Nitesh Kadam
skillslabnm@mgmmcnm.edu.in
mailto:skillslabnm@mgmmcnm.edu.in

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Further information and queries

Email

Phone us

Call 020 7869 6300 to talk with a member of our team. 

We are available to answer calls during our working hours of 8.30am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and there is a voicemail outside this time.