The persistent tension between training and service delivery caused by the European Working Time Directive has made it necessary to reassess the surgical staff and adopt new working practices. Surgical services can be delivered with the assistance of the expanded surgical team. Surgical care professionals are prepared to look after surgical patients along the whole patient pathway, including in clinics, operating rooms, and wards. Due to the flexible nature of the work, they are ongoing members of the surgical team and can support both the service and training. This article provides a general overview of the surgical care practitioner's (SCP) job and how it affects surgical education.
