10 October 2018

Cardiothoracic surgery training at Royal Papworth Hospital has been ranked the best in the country.

Trainee doctors who took part in the General Medical Council’s (GMC) 2018 training survey scored Royal Papworth 95 out of 100 for Overall Satisfaction, 97 for Clinical Supervision and 96 for Educational Supervision.

And the hospital’s cardiothoracic training team scored significantly above the national average in a number of categories – Teamwork (93), Supportive Environment (89), Feedback (94) and Local Teaching (90).

Mr Yasir Abu-Omar, Royal Papworth Hospital Consultant Surgeon and Regional Training Programme Director in Cardiothoracic Surgery, said: “It gives me great pleasure to lead the training programme which has historically been exceptional. This programme has produced leaders in the field of cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation nationally and internationally over the past three decades. 

“We now consistently set the standards for the best training programme that also attracts the most competitive trainees. Not only did our programme have the best results in the UK among other cardiothoracic training programmes, but the best for any surgical specialty and, in the words of a Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) representative, the best results they have ever seen. The Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking to replicate some of the strengths of our programme on other programmes nationally. 

“This is of course a true testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of all the educational and clinical supervisors, as well as the dedication, professionalism and commitment from all the trainees. This programme produces the best trainees and consultants nationally and I hope that together we continue to drive this programme forward to be even better than it is today.”

David Jenkins, Clinical Director of Surgery, said that he was at the SAC national training meeting when these survey results were discussed, and was very proud to report that these results were not just the best for cardiothoracic surgery in the UK, but the best of any surgical specialty.