Postgraduate Diploma in Minor Surgery

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Outline:

1. The programme is designed specifically for Primary Care Physicians to build on your existing knowledge, skills and experience and develop mastery in the clinical and service aspects of Minor Surgery.
2. The Rila Institute of Health Sciences administers the programme, which is validated by Middlesex University
3. This means that when you successfully complete all parts of the programme, you will receive the Middlesex University qualification of a Postgraduate Diploma in Minor Surgery, and may, if you wish, attend the graduation ceremony.
4. You will enrol as a student of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences and will be registered with the University.
5. Should you not complete the full programme, then you will be provided with a transcript recording the individual elements of the programme successfully completed.

General information:

Rila Institute of Health Sciences has developed a Postgraduate Diploma in Minor Surgery to be offered to students from UK and overseas.

1. The programme has been designed specifically for primary care physicians wishing to gain experience in the management of clinical and service aspects of Minor Surgery.
2. The Diploma course runs over approximately 10 to 11 months. For exact course dates and locations please check website.
3. The course integrates several components of learning. There are reading topics available on-line. Understanding of these core topics is assessed through a series of online Higher Order Thinking Questions.
4. The reading topics i.e. resource learning material, which are specifically commissioned by Rila Institute of Health Sciences, cover the essential elements in developing core knowledge and skills in Minor Surgery.
5. A 1-2 day workshops/lectures is held at the start of the course in the international regional centre, but usually in the UK. This is structured to include lectures and workshops relevant to developing a sound basis for Musculoskeletal Medicine.
6. A number of workshops/lectures will also be held during the course.
7. The student must identify a suitable specialist e.g. in dermatology, plastic surgery, general surgery or a GP with a Special Interest in Minor Surgery, who will be prepared to act as a clinical supervisor and provider access to clinical sessions of a diagnostic and surgical skills focus.
8. The student will be required to record all such activity in a skills booklet and get it countersigned by the supervisor.
9. Assessment is partly by continuous assessment of the reading topics and mini-tests, both carried out on line. There will also be a final examination held in the international regional centre or UK.

Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma:

1. There are 3 modules in the Postgraduate Diploma level award.
2. In each period of 5-7 days a particular topic (detailed in the programme calendar) is studied by way of a specially written article. Each topic is assessed by way of Higher Order Thinking Questions, for which there is a deadline date. A number of timed mini-exams are conducted online, and the student is strongly recommended to participate in this activity.
3. There is a 1-2 day workshop/lecture, held in the international regional centre at the start of the each programme. This will provide tutorials, lectures and practical demonstrations.
4. You will also have an opportunity to meet other doctors on the course and medical staff from the UK and overseas.
5. There is a usually workshops during the course, depending on your programme of study and a final examination held at the international center or in UK.
6. You will be expected to participate in the online clinical activity. For those following the Diploma this activity, mainly in Module 3, will be graded by the online facilitator. You must attain a “satisfactory” grade.
7. You will also need to have completed the Practical skills activities as indicated in the “Skills Booklet” and which needs to be signed off by your clinical supervisor.

Course Syllabus

Postgraduate Diploma comprises Modules 1, 2 and 3

Module 1: Core generic knowledge & skills

• Receiving & welcoming patients
• Medico-legal and ethical issues
• How to read a scientific paper
• Determinants of health
• Lifestyle factors in health
• Identification of risk factors
• Nutrition and health
• Breaking bad news.
• Teaching & Mentoring

Module 2: Advances in Minor Surgery

Topics include:

• Anatomy & Physiology of skin; healing & scarring; anaesthetic agents and injections; skin incisions, suture material and closure techniques; skin lesions(recognition and diagnosis of a wide range of skin lesions, including: non -malignant, NMSC, malignant melanoma); medico-legal aspects; cautery & curettage, cyro & electro and chemical);equipment; sterilisation; health & Safety; lumps and bumps: histopathology, pre & postop care; advanced excision techniques; complications of minor surgery; toenail surgery; skin ulcers; vasectomy; bartholin cysts, keloid; xanthelasma; ganglia; nerve blocks; audit; minor wounds; burns; abscesses

Module 3: Clinical Practice in Minor Surgery

Clinical skills including the following amongst others:

• Describe skin lesions
• Identify benign naevi
• Identify benign skin tumours( e.g. epidermoid and pilar cysts, milia; mucous cysts; seborrhoeic keratosis; achrocrdons, hypertrophic scars and keloid; dermatofibromas; lipomas; neurofibromas; leiomyomas; pyogenic granulomas; chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis; cutaneous horn)
• Identify pre-malignant lesions (actinic keratosis; Bowens diseases; keratoacanthoma)
• Identify malignant conditions (BCC, SCC, malignant melanoma, dysplastic naevus)
• Anaesthetic agents (types, volumes, delivery, use of adrenaline, ring and nerve block)
• Simple excision techniques (ellipse, crescent, incisional biopsy, curettage, shave excision, deal with dog ears)
• In relation to suturing and skin closure (interrupted, continuous, mattress, glue and dressing)
• Effective haemostasis (vessel ligation, cautery, diathermy, topical like silver nitrate)
• Use of electrocautery, cryotherapy and diathermy.
• Able to take patient consent and provide follow up advice
• Manage with peri-operative complications (needle stick injury; faints/fits; resuscitation)Use of Take scrapings for mycology
• Manage post-operative complications (bleeding; infection; dehiscence; poor scarring)

Course Map

Postgraduate Diploma Course map

Time allocation for the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma:

1. Approximately one half to one full day a week is recommended as being the suggested allocation time for the each of the programmes.

Minimum Requirements for the web learning aspects:

1. A specific area of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences website is dedicated to the Postgraduate Diploma in Minor Surgery.
2. You will be issued with a user name and password.
3. You MUST have computer access to the internet and it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is the case.
4. The website will provide facilities such as Forums, a Bulletin Board, online Chat Room etc.
5. You will be provided with information on how to use the web site.

Admission criteria:

Participants admitted to this programme will need to meet following criteria:

• Be in possession of an MBBS or an equivalent medical degree from a WHO recognised institution
• If the medical degree or other undergraduate qualification was not taught in the English language, a score of 6.5 in the British Council IELTS test (including a score of 5.5 or better in the written component), or equivalent qualification, will usually be required.
• Be in full or part time medical practice.
• Has an identified clinical supervisor who has agreed to provide access to clinical educational activities.
• Provide a satisfactory reference from a senior health care practitioner with knowledge of your work, such as a line manager, confirming your suitability to join the programme

Award of the Postgraduate Diploma:

1. You are strongly recommended to complete the formative assessments related to each topic and the mini online exams. Try and attain at least 50% marks.
2. The final examination, to be held in the central location, is mandatory for all students.
3. The final examination MUST be passed, for the Diploma (Modules 1, 2 and 3) to be awarded.
4. The final examination consists of a paper based format of Higher Order Thinking Assessments (Single Best Option, Extended Matching Questions, and Clinical Quiz).
5. The examiners are consultants and an external examiner(s) are appointed by Middlesex University.
6. A failure of a re-sit in the final examination, results in the student being unable to be awarded the Diploma. The student will have to re-register for the course. A re-sit for the final examination requires an additional fee payment. For further details click here.

Recognition of the Diploma:

1. You, as a Medical Practitioner or healthcare professional, will have greater confidence and knowledge to better manage your patients.
2. Furthermore, you, as a Medical Practitioner or healthcare professional, will be further recognized and appreciated, by clinical colleagues, as having a special interest in Minor Surgery.
3. The Postgraduate Diploma is an academic qualification.

Accreditation

The Postgraduate Diploma is accredited/validated as follows:

• 1. Validated by Middlesex University, London – awarding institution
• 2. Approved by the Royal College of General Practitioners, London, for Higher Professional Development and Accredited learning for CPD
• 3. Endorsed by the National Association for Primary Care, London

Organisations involved

1. Middlesex University, London with whom the candidates are registered and who control the quality assurance and the award of the final diploma.
2. UK and overseas based specialists in Minor Surgery, provide the content, curriculum and clinical guidance, and host the final examination.
3. Rila Institute of Health Sciences, London, which is a collaborative organisation of the University, provides all administrative and logistical support to the course.

If you have any questions, then upon request, our enrolment advisor will contact you with help and/or assistance with your application.

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