Skip to main content
↑
About SCTS
  1. Home
  2. About SCTS
  3. News
  4. SCTS statement of Extended Surgical Team (EST)

SCTS statement of Extended Surgical Team (EST)

03 December 2023 (Last updated: 28 Nov 2023 14:32) by SCTS

Extended roles for nurses and allied health professionals within cardiothoracic surgery have developed for over 30 years. There are established surgical care practitioners (SCPs), advanced critical care practitioners (ACCPs), and advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) in the cardiothoracic operating theatre, intensive care unit, and surgical ward. The evolution of broader roles for the Extended Surgical Team (EST) has been shown to:

  • Improve patient outcomes;
  • Enhance patient flow;
  • Improve patient experience and continuity of care; and
  • Enhance the quality of surgical training by allowing trainees to focus on activities with the most training benefits.

As detailed in the NHS Workforce Plan, the EST is integral to the future growth and development of the health service, especially against the challenges of staff recruitment and retention. The structure of the EST is flexible and should be determined according to local needs, recognising regional variations in clinical practice and service demands.

 

The SCTS is currently working with the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations (FSSA) and the Royal College of Surgeons through the Intercollegiate Extended Surgical Team Board. The surgical Royal Colleges established the Board to determine the scope of practice, training and assessment, titles, and governance arrangements (including national registration and regulation) for all members of the EST and ensure that EST roles do not compromise training opportunities for surgical trainees.

 

The SCTS strongly supports all EST members and encourages all cardiothoracic surgical practitioners to collaborate to ensure that together we deliver the best patient outcomes for our specialty.

View other News