Upcoming events

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
• Robotic Right Hemicolectomy and Intracorporeal Anastomosis Course - Observers

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: 

• 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:

• 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: 

• 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:

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

Time: 8.30am - 5pm

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

Booking: The Lap Lab: Eventbrite

CPD Points: 7

Overview: The course will allow delegates to perform a wide range of anastomosis:

• Small bowel
• Colonic
• Gastrojejunostomy
• Oesophago-gastrotomy
• Ureteric reconstruction, bladder injury repair
• Vascular
• Laparoscopic suturing and anastomoses
• Human factors workshop

The course will be delivered at the Cambridge Digital Health and Surgical Training Centre

Website: www.cam-pgmc.ac.uk

Overview: Experience hands-on training with advanced surgical robots (Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, CMR), mastering the latest robotic surgery techniques through guided practice.

Expert-Led Sessions
Participate in sessions led by robotic FRU consultants who share invaluable insight and guidance for mastering robotic FRU procedures and setting up services.

Interactive Learning Modules
Engage with interactive modules designed to enhance skills and understanding of robotic surgical innovations

Target Audience: Higher specialty trainees in urology (ST5+) and Urology consultants with an interest in robotic FRU

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

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

Overview: A two-day immersive cadaveric training course designed for senior upper GI trainees and consultants wishing to develop and advance robotic oesophagectomy skills. The course combines expert-led lectures, operative video discussion and xtensive hands-on cadaveric operating using dual robotic platforms in a high-fidelity surgical environment.

Target Audience: ST6 - ST8 Surgical Trainees, Upper GI Fellows, Consultant Upper GI Surgeons

Practical Experience: 

• Robotic abdominal and thoracic oesophageal mobilisation
• Gastric conduit formation, docking, port placement, and operative workflow
• Discussion of patient selection, peri-operative pathways, and management of intra-operative challenges

Objectives: 

• Full access to dual robotic systems with hands-on cadaveric operating
• Understand the principles and contemporary approaches to robotic oesophagectomy
• Become familiar with robotic theatre setup, docking, and port placement
• Appreciate the ergonomics and instrumentation of robotic upper GI surgery
• Develop robotic tissue handling and dissection techniques in thoracic and abdominal phases
• Understand gastric conduit formation and reconstruction principles
• Learn strategies for safe mediastinal dissection and lymphadenectomy
• Discuss patient selection, staging, optimisation, and enhanced recovery pathways
• Recognise operative pitfalls, complications, and troubleshooting strategies
• Review current evidence, outcomes, and learning curves in robotic oesophageal surgery

Fee: £1650

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

Contact:

• nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net
• 0191 2138589

Website: Robotic surgery - Newcastle Surgical Training Centre

Aims and objectives: 

• To understand the principles of docking and undocking the da Vinci Xi system and the positioning of patients for robotic adrenal surgery.
• To identify the target anatomy for adrenal procedures and instrument selection.
• To use instrument to mobilise the colon/spleen/pancreas/liver to expose the adrenal glands.
• Use of robotic energy devices.

Target Audience: ST7-ST8 Trainees, Senior Clinical Fellows, Consultants

Fee: £995

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 Adrenal Surgery Course

Overview: This 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 one-day course of lectures, debate, exchange and practical hands-on experience on Orthopaedics procedures using a Stryker MAKO Robot.

Target Audience: ST5 - ST8 Orthopaedic Trainees

Aims: 

• Familiarise with the function and operation of the MAKO Robot
• Perform approaches to the Hip & Knee using Cadaveric Simulation
• Plan and execute gap & soft tissue balancing techniques using the robotic application

Fee: £350

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 - MAKO Robotic Ortho Cadaveric Dissection Course

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 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 procedures using the Da Vinci Robot.

Target audience: Advanced trainees and Consultants 

Aims: 

• To become familiar with the function and operation of the Da Vinci Surgical System, the ergonomics and the available robotic instrumentation.
• To learn robotic tissue dissection techniques using monopolar, bipolar, harmonic and plasma kinetic energy in robotic surgery.
• To understand the selection process for patient position, Da Vinci surgical team position and robotic surgical approaches.

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

Contact: +44 (0)191 2138628 and nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

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

Aims and Objectives: 

• Full access to the da Vinci Robot with hands on procedures on fresh frozen cadavers and full access to the clinical lectures
• Become familiar with the function & operation of the da Vinci Surgical System
• Appreciate the ergonomics of the da Vinci Surgical system robot and the available robotic instrumentation.
• Understand the selection process for patient position, da Vinci surgical team position and robotic surgical approaches.
• Learn robotic tissue dissection techniques using monopolar energy

Procedures to be performed: 

• Robotic Cholecystectomy
• Robotic distal pancreatectomy
• Robotic Splenectomy
• Robotic left lateral sectionectomy
• Robotic segmental liver resection

Target Audience: Trainees ST5 - ST8 and HPB Consultants

Fee: £1500

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

Contact: +44 (0)191 2138628 and nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

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

Target audience: Senior Trainees (ST5+), Fellows (ENT, Neurosurgery) , Associate Specialists, Speciality Doctors and Consultants

Aims: 

• Revise the anatomy of paranasal sinuses and anterior skull base
• Practise endoscopic & open approaches to paranasal sinuses including Draf (1-3), osteoplastic flap and frontal sinus obliteration
• Learn management of sinus surgery complications e.g. orbital haematoma, CSF leak and epistaxis
• Practise a number of internal nasal pedicled flaps
• Practise extended approaches to the pterygopalatine fossa, infratemporal fossa, sella and clivus

Fee: £1400

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

Contact: +44 (0)191 2138628 and nuth.nstc.enquiries@nhs.net

Website: Newcastle Surgical Training Centre: Advanced Sinus Surgery 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