RCSI has opened applications for its national training programmes in both surgery and emergency medicine commencing in 2022.

RCSI's internationally recognised training programmes ensure the highest standards of medical practice in Ireland by delivering high-quality accredited training through state of the art facilities, fellowship opportunities and extensive trainee supports.

Speaking about the significance of the National Surgical Training Programme (NSTP), Professor Kevin Barry, Director of National Surgical Training Programmes at RCSI, said: "In recent years, a positive trend has emerged of increasing applications for our Core Surgical Training (CST) programmes. I very much welcome this development. There were in the region of 250 applications received for CST for the July 2021 intake, of which 46% were submitted by female applicants. This bodes well for the planned expansion of our national surgical training programmes over the next seven years. Intake to CST was increased from 60 to 80 training posts this year. This increased intake will inevitably result in a significant expansion in the numbers of trainees appointed to Higher Surgical Training programmes from July 2023 onwards.

"This is an exciting time to consider a career in surgery. The role of the surgeon will remain pivotal in the management of many disease processes in the future, both benign and malignant. Many forces are combining to increase the demand for surgical care in the years to come. As a result, there will be a very significant expansion in the Surgical Consultant workforce over the next 10 years to meet the demand for care."

Gareth Quin, Dean of Emergency Medicine Postgraduate Training and Education at RCSI, noted the key role of RCSI's Core and Advanced emergency medicine training programmes: "Recruitment to the emergency medicine training programme is one of the highlights of our calendar, as we seek the emergency medicine specialists of the future. The ongoing development of the specialty in Ireland is reflected in increasing numbers applying for Core training, and more Core trainees progressing to advanced training, year on year.

"Both Core and Advanced programmes continue to develop, with a growing schedule of workshops and simulation training complementing ED-based training in our busy training sites. We retain close links to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, whose curriculum and programme of examinations are a core component of our training."

Applications for the Surgery and Emergency Medicine Training Programmes are now open. For further information on how to apply, please visit the RCSI website.