Register
Contact Us
RCSEd Shop
Login
View all RCSEd Courses & Events

True Cut: Making Sense of Mistakes

Key Facts






Print this page
View tabs
View full page
Course Overview
FAQS
Cancellation Policy
Additional Information

Overview

Making mistakes is an inescapable part of being a surgeon, yet research shows that many surgeons feel ill-prepared for this reality and struggle with the deep personal impact that errors can have. Feelings of isolation and lack of support are common, and even conversations with colleagues can sometimes intensify rather than relieve distress.
Despite the centrality of this issue to our profession, it is rarely discussed openly. Many surgeons suffer in silence—leading to burnout, dropout, or reliance on unhelpful coping strategies.
The True Cut workshop offers a safe and supportive space for honest reflection and practical learning. It explores how we can build better coping strategies in ourselves and our colleagues, how we can respond compassionately to patients and families, and how we can support one another in the aftermath of an error. The workshop is designed to be equally relevant for experienced surgeons and those in training.

Target Audience

Surgeons at all levels and Trainees

Learning Style

The day centres on selected excerpts from True Cut, a verbatim play created from interviews with surgeons, their colleagues, and patients. Each scene serves as a starting point for facilitated small-group discussions, held in a safe, supportive, and confidential setting.
Scientific evidence is woven together with stimulating perspectives from the arts, encouraging thoughtful engagement and deeper reflection.

Aims & Objectives

To examine the ever-present possibility of mistakes in surgery, enabling participants to better understand and navigate their impact.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

  • better understand the universal nature of mistakes in human activity
  • appreciate the deep and lasting impact of mistakes in surgical practice
  • share and normalise the immediate and late effects on theatre staff -
  • empathise with different perspectives - prepare themselves and others for the aftermath of mistakes
  • support each other to grow and thrive in practice despite and even because of mistakes
  • explore how we should respond to patients and families
  • encourage a more open culture within their own practice, fostering dialogue and candour in their own unit - make links to online and in person resources

Additional Information

The course covers the following areas of the Surgical Curriculum:

  • GPC 1 : Values and behaviours
  • GPC 2 : Communication and interpersonal skills. Dealing with complexity and uncertainty
  • GPC 5 : Teamworking
  • GPC 6 : Patient safety

Fees:

Full Fee: £180.00

RCSEd Fellows and Members Fee: £162.00

Cancellation Policy

Please ensure you read our cancellation policy before booking.  For our full terms and conditions regarding our cancellation policy, please view our Cancellation Policy which is available on the tab above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact the Education Section?

The Education Section is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.  If you wish to contact a member of the team please see contact details below:

Education mailbox:  education@rcsed.ac.uk

Phone number:  0131 527 1600

Will I receive CPD?

All RCSEd educational activity is awarded CPD hours. Please see individual course for specific award.

Will I receive a Certificate?

Yes, RCSEd Certificates of Attendance are awarded for all educational courses and are handed out at the end of the course (however, please note that where an event has a PASS or FAIL this will be posted to you after the event). 

What is RCSEd’s course cancellation policy?
  1. What happens if RCSEd cancels a course I am booked on?
  2. On occasion, RCSEd may need to cancel a course, for example if we are affected by an event out with our control or if it is not financially viable for us to deliver the course. If we do need to cancel, we will let you know as soon as possible and provide you with a full refund of course fees paid.

RCSEd shall incur no further liability (eg. travel or accommodation costs). You may wish to consider taking out appropriate travel insurance for any non-refundable costs you may incur when arranging to attend the course.

  1. What happens if I need to cancel my place on a course I am booked?
  2. If you cancel your place more than four weeks before the event date, you will incur an administration fee of 10% (or £50, whichever is greater) of the total course fee. NB: For course fees £250 and under, the cancellation fee is £30)

If you cancel your place less than four weeks before the course date, once the course has started, or you do not notify us, the total course fee will be charged, and no refund will be given.

Please also note that you cannot transfer your place on a Course to someone else.  This is because many of our courses have a waiting list, and we have an obligation to honour this.

  1. Can I cancel a course booking online?
  2. NO, cancellations must be made directly with the education team by email (education@rcsed.ac.uk).
  3. Can I transfer to another date for the same course?
  4. YES, you can transfer to another date by contacting the Education section directly (education@rcsed.ac.uk). Please note that you can transfer only once and transfers can only be made if more than 4 weeks prior to the start of the course, without incurring additional costs.  Should you cancel again, no refund shall be given.

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

How do I book a place on an RCSEd course?

You can book a place for all our courses by visiting the RCSEd website, and selecting the course you wish to book.  Please note that you will need to register with the website in order to book.

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

You can also contact the Education Section by phone to book (0131 527 1600).

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.

Do I receive a discount if I am a Member of RCSEd?

A 10% discount is applied to all educational courses and events organised directly through RCSEd, for Members, Fellows, Associates and Affiliates.

Are you able to help me with my VISA application?

YES, RCSEd can provide you with a Visa support letter confirming the course details and fees paid by you.  This is only possible once you have booked your place on a course and RCSEd have received the full course fee.

If a course is fully booked what can I do? Is there a waiting list?

If a course appears full and you wish to be placed on a waiting list then please contact the education team directly by email education@rcsed.ac.uk or phone 0131 527 1600.

Do you provide lunch or refreshments?

YES, for all educational courses, refreshments are served throughout the day and lunch is provided if the duration is one day or more.

Associated Documents

Associated Documents

back to top of page

Get in touch

If you have any questions about this course, please contact us and a member of our Education team will be happy to help you.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Education Section

Phone: +44 (0)131 527 1600
Fax: +44 (0)131 557 6406

Email: education@rcsed.ac.uk