September 2026

September has been another very busy month for the BSGE, with so many courses, educational events and new initiatives taking place across the Society.

I have had the pleasure of being faculty on some of these events myself, and it has been a real highlight to meet so many enthusiastic resident doctors, trainers and colleagues from across the UK. The energy around education and training within the Society is incredibly encouraging, and it is wonderful to see so many members giving their time and expertise to support teaching and training.

Alongside this, several of our major projects are moving forward at pace. From fibroid care and robotic training to RIGS and new advanced surgical skills programmes, there is a huge amount happening across the BSGE.

Here are some of the key updates from this month.

National Fibroid Network
The National Fibroid Network project is moving forward at pace, and I would like to thank our Fibroid Care Subcommittee Chair, Mr Mostafa Abdalla, for sharing this vision and for his energy and commitment in driving the work forward.
Recruitment to the full subcommittee has now been completed. We were delighted to receive more than 80 applications, demonstrating the huge enthusiasm across the UK for improving fibroid care. The subcommittee has been carefully brought together to ensure representation from across all of the UK and from the range of specialties involved in fibroid care, including fertility, oncology and beyond. A very warm welcome to all of our new subcommittee members.You can find out more about the new Fibroid Care Subcommittee and its members here: https://www.bsge.org.uk/portfolios/fibroid-care/

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our newly established Fibroid Scientific Advisory Group. Their collective knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in helping guide the next stages of this work. It is a pleasure to welcome Mr Jimi Odejinmi, Professor Yacoub Khalaf, Professor Mohamed Mabrouk and Professor Ertan Saridogan.

Our first steps will include a national patient and clinician survey, helping us understand the current landscape of fibroid care across the UK and identify where change is most needed. This will lay the foundations for our wider ambitions: developing a national fibroid database, defining standards for excellent fibroid care and, ultimately, establishing Fibroid Centres of Excellence.

Our aim is to work collaboratively across specialties, societies and alongside patients to improve the quality, consistency and equity of fibroid care across the UK.

BSGE–Intuitive National Robotic Surgery Training Pathway 2026
I am delighted to see the first UK national robotic surgery training programme in gynaecology open for registration.

This has been a real project of passion, spearheaded by Mr Tony Chalhoub, and represents an important step towards providing structured and equitable access to robotic surgical training for gynaecology resident doctors across the UK.

The interest in the programme has been immense, and thank you to everyone who has applied. Successful applicants will be notified shortly, and I am very much looking forward to seeing this first cohort begin their training.

RIGS HUB National Training Programme
The hugely successful RIGS National Training Programme will be commencing again, with the beginner sessions starting on 14 December 2026.

This programme gets bigger and better every year, and its continued development and improvement simply would not be possible without the enthusiasm of our resident doctors and the incredible support of BSGE members who give their time to teaching and training.

This year we received almost 400 applications from resident doctors wishing to take part in the programme, alongside an incredible 170 faculty applications. A huge thank you to everyone who has applied, volunteered and supported the programme. It is fantastic to see such enthusiasm for surgical education and training across the Society.

BSGE-Arthrex Laparoscopic Skills Academy 2027
We are also delighted to announce the BSGE-Arthrex Laparoscopic Skills Academy 2027, taking place on 25-26 January 2027.

This will be an excellent cadaveric training course, with extensive hands-on sessions including cystoscopy, ureteric stenting, ICG techniques, pelvic sidewall dissection and much more.

The hands-on component is limited to just 15 delegates and is open to ST7 level and above, allowing for focused, high-quality practical training alongside expert faculty. There will also be a virtual option, providing a wider audience with the opportunity to observe the practical techniques and join the faculty for expert discussion.

BSGE ASM Bristol 2027
We are also already looking ahead to what promises to be an amazing BSGE Annual Scientific Meeting in Bristol. Please save the dates: 8-10 June 2027.

There is a great deal of work happening behind the scenes to develop what I hope will be another outstanding Annual Scientific Meeting, and I am very much looking forward to welcoming our membership to Bristol next summer.
 
There is an enormous amount happening across the Society, and I remain incredibly grateful to our Council members, committee and subcommittee leads, faculty, resident doctors and wider BSGE membership who continue to give their time, energy and expertise so generously.

The enthusiasm for our education and training programmes this month has been particularly striking. Whether through RIGS, robotics, our joint RCOG courses or the development of new programmes, it is clear how much appetite there is for high-quality training and opportunities to develop surgical skills.

Alongside this, initiatives such as the National Fibroid Network demonstrate our wider commitment to improving care, strengthening multidisciplinary working and continuing to develop the role of the BSGE.

There is still much more to come as we move into the final few months of 2026.

Best Wishes,
Rebecca Mallick

Dates for the diary
There is plenty coming up over the next few months, so please do make a note of these key dates:

30 September 2026 at 18:00
BSGE Webinar: Green Light for ICG? Evidence, Innovation and the Future of Gynaecological Surgery

1 October 2026 — online lectures
13 or 14 October 2026 — practical workshops at the RCOG, London
Joint RCOG/BSGE Event: Diagnostic and Operative Hysteroscopy

15 October 2026 — online
Joint RCOG/BSGE Event: Chronic Pelvic Pain

29-30 October 2026
BSGE Senior Professional Development Meeting

2 December 2026
BSGE Endometriosis Clinical Nurse Specialist Day

3–4 December 2026
Inaugural BSGE EndoUK 360 MDT Meeting

21-22 January 2027
BSGE Ambulatory Care Network (ACN)

25–26 January 2027
BSGE-Arthrex Laparoscopic Skills Academy

26 January 2027
BSGE & Arthrex Virtual Laparoscopic Skills Academy 

22 – 24 April 2027
RCOG World Congress 2027
Super early bird offer 
Invest in your future practice: Be part of the conversations driving the future of obstetrics and gynaecology. Explore emerging trends, new technologies and innovative approaches that will influence clinical practice, education and leadership for years to come.

Register before Saturday 31 October 2026 to secure the lowest available rate here:
RCOG World Congress 2027 registration | RCOG

You can sign up for BSGE Events notification via https://www.bsge.org.uk/event-release-notification-signup/