As the year draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an incredibly busy and productive year for the British & Irish Association of Robotic Gynaecological Surgeons (BIARGS).
In 2024, we witnessed remarkable growth in both robotic surgery and our society. Our successful training courses, generously supported by our dedicated trainers, have helped us advance skills and promote excellence in robotic surgery. Notably, we held a Training the Trainers course in collaborationwith Lapco, further strengthening our commitment to building a robust educational foundation for the future.
Our monthly webinars have become a vital platform for promoting robotic surgery and fostering engagement among our members. The Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Liverpool this November was another highlight, marked by an enriching collaboration with esteemed organizations such as the BSGE, BSUG, and BSGO. Additionally, our partnership with the RCOG has reached new heights this year.
A key milestone for BIARGS in 2024 was the implementation of the robotic curriculum as part of the RCOG SITM programme. This significant achievement marks the beginning of formal robotic training for trainees in the UK, setting us apart as the only Britishcollege for postgraduate gynaecological education with an integrated robotic training programme. This innovation underscores our dedication to advancing education and patient care.
Your enthusiasm for learning, commitment to innovation, and active participation in society activities have been the cornerstone of our success. Together, we are shaping the future of gynaecological robotic surgery.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to build on these successes. Plans are already underway for a series of training courses catering to all levels—basic, intermediate, and advanced. Our collaboration with the RCOG will continue to thrive, with a joint scientific meeting at the RCOG Global Congress in June 2025 and our ASM in North Staffordshire in November.
We aim to establish BIARGS as aglobal leader in robotic surgical education and innovation, ensuring that our members remain at the forefront of advancements in this exciting field.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our members and council members whose dedication and passion have made BIARGS the thriving society it is today. I encourage all members performing gynaecological robotic surgery to engage with the annual audit and pursue robotic accreditation to maintain the highest standards of practice.
May this holiday season bring you peace, joy, and time to reflect on your incredible contributions to our field. Here’s to continued success in 2025!
Minimal Access: Minimal Conversion to conventional surgery
BIARGS Audit Dataset
To ensure robotic surgery is provided within clinical governance framework, surgeonsshould maintain adequate case load surgical skills and participate in CPD. Audit of annual workload and outcomes is submitted to BIARGS. This leads to BIARGS recognised registered robotic surgeon working in UK and Ireland with names uploaded on BIARGS website. Annual appraisal process within each trust will be responsible for managing individual surgeon performance. Members can submit data via BIARGS website with personised password protected portal. Anonymised data will be included in annual report for society AGM for discussion of trends and shared learning.