Medical Royal Colleges for centuries have advocated, developed and upheld professional standards to ensure high quality education and assessment to ensure patients receive safe and effective care. This is the essence of the motto of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the oldest of the Medical Royal Colleges in the UK, ‘Hinc Sanitas’ which means ‘From Here, Health’.

Whilst the primary focus for centuries has been on the health of our population, what has become apparent in recent years is the additional need to support the health of our medical workforce. Numerous reports have documented higher rates of physical and mental health issues, including an increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Many organisations have recognised and responded to these findings and this talk will outline some of the activities RCSEd is undertaking to support the current and future surgical workforce.