Australia specialist surgeon registration - log book requirements for recency of practice

[Keno]

I am a South African surgeon with general surgery training in South Africa, and sub-specialist training (HPB & Transplant) in Ireland and the UK.

I originally intended to apply for specialist registration in the UK via the notorious CESR pathway. I've hit a wall with this because their logbook limits require that I have done all the basic general surgery procedures (appendicectomy, hernia etc) in the last 6 years. Although, I occasionally do these procedures, because I have been doing sub-specialist fellowships for the last few years, my basic training years fall outside of this limit (8 years ago). I'm now in a situation where I have training in HPB and tranplant but can't proceed to specialist registration because I haven't done 80 appendicectomies and 60 hernias in the last 6 years.

I've been trying to find details of the logbook requirements for the specialist pathway in Australia. I've read that the last 2 years of practice must be submitted, but can't find any further details. Are there more specific requirements regarding the number of procedures required, etc?

With thanks,

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[txm88]

Hi - unfortunately your situation sounds quite unique so I can't imagine that there will be people on the forum with similar experiences to guide you
I am not a surgeon nor have any experience with RACS specialist pathway or CESR but I'll try my best to give you some perspective

The good thing is that the Australian specialist pathway and CESR are quite different...although both are notoriously difficult

You sound like a well trained surgeon with experience in a comparable ('competent authority') country...anecdotally, many subspecialised people in your situation seem to be able to eventually able to qualify as a consultant in Australia

I am not sure of the RACS logbook requirements for the specialist pathway in Australia, but theoretically there should be no minimum as they assess each applicant on a case by case basis. The good thing about the Australian pathway versus CESR (if Im not mistaken) is that the former permits you to have deficiencies and work on them without outright rejecting your application.

...because in Australia, pathway to specialist registration is not only passing the specialist assessment (be determined as partially comparable or substantially comparable), but once you pass this assessment you need to do 12-36 months of top-up training in a senior reg/staff specialist position AND pass the fellowship exam. Whereas for CESR it sounds like you obtain specialist qualifications only through submitting thousands of pages of documents whilst you work as a senior doctor in the NHS where you either meet the requirements for CESR or you don't

If determined as partially comparable, the college should be able to come up with some sort of learning plan for you to regain the skills in areas you deficient in...you would need to tick these boxes off during your top up training

 

[Comrade Kuma]

I am a South African surgeon with general surgery training in South Africa, and sub-specialist training (HPB & Transplant) in Ireland and the UK.

I originally intended to apply for specialist registration in the UK via the notorious CESR pathway. I've hit a wall with this because their logbook limits require that I have done all the basic general surgery procedures (appendicectomy, hernia etc) in the last 6 years. Although, I occasionally do these procedures, because I have been doing sub-specialist fellowships for the last few years, my basic training years fall outside of this limit (8 years ago). I'm now in a situation where I have training in HPB and tranplant but can't proceed to specialist registration because I haven't done 80 appendicectomies and 60 hernias in the last 6 years.

I've been trying to find details of the logbook requirements for the specialist pathway in Australia. I've read that the last 2 years of practice must be submitted, but can't find any further details. Are there more specific requirements regarding the number of procedures required, etc?

With thanks,

Have you made any progress with the RACS application?