Basic and Essential Surgical Training Skills (BESST) Course

Surgical Skills Training Centre @ Red Cross Children’s Hospital

Dates: Monday 16 – Wednesday 18 February 2026
Duration: 3 Days
Venue: Surgical Skills Training Centre, 6th Floor ICH Building, Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Rondebosch, Cape Town
Target Audience: Medical Officers, COSMOs, Junior Registrars, Interns, and any other Practitioners
Fee: R3 000

This intensive 3-day hands-on course provides an introduction to safe surgical practice within a controlled workshop environment. It’s designed to build confidence and competence in essential surgical skills under expert guidance. Please note animal tissue is used for this workshop.

This is a CPD accredited course.

Course Outline:
Day 1 – Basic Surgical Techniques: Theatre etiquette, handling instruments, knot-tying, suturing, and bowel anastomosis.
Day 2 – Vascular, Trauma & Orthopedics: Vascular anastomoses (arteriotomy & closure, vein patch graft), trauma management, drainage & debridement, tendon repair, and plastering techniques.
Day 3 – Minimal Access Surgery: Instrumentation, grasping & manipulation, clipping & loop ligation, and diathermy.

Please register for the BESST Course using the following registration form.

Please note that space is limited.

For more information please contact: kerryn.macdermott@uct.ac.za