Applications for the next course on the 7th to the 11th of December 2026 are now open.

Please email education@rcsed.ac.uk to receive the application form.

Application Deadline: 12:00 BST Friday 15 May 2026.

Course Overview

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in collaboration with the David Nott Foundation (DNF), are delivering the HEST-UK (Hostile Environment Surgical Training, United Kingdom) course directed by Professor David Nott and the DNF Faculty Team.

This interactive five-day course will provide participants with an understanding of the decision-making strategies that have proven effective in surgical settings in austere conditions. By the end of the course, you will be ready to work in a humanitarian crisis, providing emergency surgical care to populations exposed to or recovering from the health consequences of conflict and catastrophe.

The course content covers cases associated with conflict and catastrophe, particularly penetrating and crush injuries as well as the management of trauma of the limbs, head, thorax, and torso. A further focus is on post-disaster/conflict procedures including skin flaps and grafts, and the management of orthopaedic fractures using external fixation and traction. One day of the course also deals with the decision-making and management of obstetric emergencies including post-partum haemorrhage and caesarean section.

Course Format

A five-day intensive cadaveric-based course including:

Practical demonstrations
Interactive case scenarios
Hands-on cadaveric workshops
Lectures

Suitability

Surgeons operating or preparing to operate in conflict zones and austere environments.

Qualified surgeons with a number of years of practical experience.

Relevant Grades: ST7, ST8, SAS Grades and Consultants.

Course Objectives

This course will significantly enhance the trauma surgery and decision-making skills of surgeons operating in countries impacted by conflict and catastrophe.

Training to provide safe, skilled surgical care will result in improved surgical outcomes for civilians impacted by conflict.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, delegates will be ready to work in a humanitarian crisis, providing emergency surgical care to populations exposed to or recovering from the health consequences of conflict and catastrophe.

Course Director

Professor David Nott

Content Warning:
Please be advised this course contains graphic material and documentation from areas experiencing conflict. Content may depict traumatic injuries, violence, and humanitarian crises. Participant discretion is advised.

Course feedback:

One of the best courses I've ever attended

This HEST Course is probably the best course I've ever done, and it's been really amazing. It's been great to meet other people from different countries, other sub specialities, see techniques that the other specialties do and it's excellent for cross fertilisation of techniques and also to get back to the basics of surgery, which I think is really important and I would highly recommend doing this course. I hope to go on some deployments after this and I've met some really fantastic people this week.

Hands down the best course I have attended in my professional career.

The course provides the bedrock on which to deal with conflict and disaster surgery by both military and humanitarian surgeons.

I attended this course having done a small amount of humanitarian work, and I just wanted to understand more about what the surgical options were for treating people in austere environments and the course has been beyond my expectations. It's really been exceptionally interesting and helpful, and I feel like I can now help support the surgeons in these environments, to make the right decisions.

It's been exceptional. It's a five-day intensive course. It's all action-packed and it's all hands on which is fantastic. There are minimal lectures, so it's very interactive and we've covered every speciality and I think it's an exceptional course because it not only covers the specialty that I'm interested in, but it covers every specialty, plastics, obs and gynae, orthopaedics and the chest. I think it's a course every surgeon should attend and it's the skills that we should all be familiar with as general surgeons, and I really recommend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RCSEd’s course cancellation policy?

What happens if RCSEd cancels a course I am booked on?
Occasionally, RCSEd may need to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or if it is not financially viable to run. If this happens, we will notify you as soon as possible and issue a full refund of any course fees paid.

Please note that RCSEd will not be liable for any additional costs such as travel or accommodation. We recommend arranging appropriate travel insurance to cover any non-refundable expenses.
What happens if I need to cancel my place on a course I am booked?

If you cancel within 48 hours of booking, you will receive a full (100%) refund.

Cancellations made more than four weeks before the course date will be refunded, minus a 20% administration fee.

If you cancel less than four weeks before the course date, after the course has started, or fail to notify us, the full course fee will be charged, and no refund will be given. However, if you have a valid reason and can provide supporting evidence, you may be eligible for an 80% refund, subject to approval.

Please note that course places are non-transferable. Many of our courses have waiting lists, and we are committed to offering any available places to those on the list.

Should you have any further questions, the Education Team can be contacted on 0131 527 1600 or by email to education@rcsed.ac.uk.

Can I cancel a course booking online?

NO, cancellations must be made directly with the education team via phone or email. (Email: education@rcsed.c.uk or phone 0131 527 1600)

Can I transfer to another date for the same course?

No – we do not offer the option to defer or transfer your place to a later date or an alternative course.

How do I book a place on an RCSEd course?

You can book a place for all our courses by visiting the RCSEd Website, https://www.rcsed.ac.uk/events-courses and selecting the course you wish to book. Please note that you will need to register and create an account with the College of Surgeons in order to book.

Please be aware that creating an account is free and open to non-members.

For some regional and international courses, you will need to book directly with the centre. Please check individual courses for details.

What payment methods do RCSEd accept?

Visa and MasterCard are accepted on the RCSEd website.

All course bookings will receive a booking confirmation email: this email acts as your receipt.

Request an Invoice: If your course fees will be paid by a third party (eg trust, hospital, charitable fund) and they wish to be invoiced then they must provide us with an official purchase order. We are unable to process applications without this.

The purchase order should be submitted with the application form and can be emailed to education@rcsed.ac.uk. Please note that we can only invoice organisations and not individuals. Please check with your hospital or trust, as some may require you to pay yourself and then claim the money back.

Hostile Environment Surgical Training, United Kingdom (HEST-UK)

Key Facts