In this opinion piece, Editor John Duncan considers the challenge of delivering world-class major trauma care to patients north of the border

Trauma is a Public Health issue. Surgeons are intimately involved in the treatment of patients with trauma but so are first responders, the ambulance service and rehabilitation specialists.

Warwick University medical student wins Lister Surgical Skills Competition

A medical student from the University of Warwick won the grand final of the Lister Surgical Skills Competition which took place, as part of our Lister Centenary Celebration, on Saturday 11 February 2012.

31-year-old Mark Mobley from Birmingham won the Lister Surgical Skills Competition after initially winning a regional heat in the West Midlands Deanery. He competed in the Grand Final in Edinburgh against 19 other regional finalists and demonstrated exceptional surgical skills in disciplines such as tendon repair, anatomy, cross infection and laparoscopy tests. Second place was awarded to fourth year student, Mudit Matanhelia from St George's University of London.

Highlights from the after-dinner speech on Thursday 9 February, delivered by a surprise special guest

I have spent many years living, working, teaching and studying in Edinburgh, but cannot be certain how much longer I’ll remain. Kings College in London have been making overtures for my services, and I fear I may not be able to refuse them much longer.

RCSEd Council visits Sri Lanka, strengthening relationships and valuable links between the two surgical college

The College Council recently made a visit to Sri Lanka, from 21 August to 3 September 2011, to attend a number of significant events at the country’s surgical college, The College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka.