Breast Surgery Training
Information about training pathways, curricula and training fellowships
Breast Surgery Training
Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme
All training curricula in medicine are changing in line with the standards set out in Excellence by Design and surgery is no exception. This will be the biggest change in training and assessment since 2007. Please click here to find the most up to date information on the new 2020 curriculum
Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST)
The JCST is an advisory body to the four surgical Royal Colleges of the UK and Ireland for all matters related to surgical training and works closely with the Surgical Specialty Associations in Great Britain and Ireland. Please click here to access their page.
To access the JCST statement on the postponement of the new surgical curriculum to 2021 please visit the website
How to become a Breast Surgeon
This summary briefly explains the main routes to a career in breast surgery.
This document has been drawn up by the Education & Training Committee Chair in order to support TPDs and trainees in managing the training of breast trainees during the transition to the new curriculum.
Please find below an extracted document which explains the implementation of the new General Surgery curriculum and what is pertinent to Breast Surgery.
Theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum for European Breast Surgeons
The Breast Surgery theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum comprehensively describes the knowledge and skills expected of a fully trained breast surgeon practicing in the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). It forms part of a range of factors that contribute to the delivery of high quality cancer care. Please click here to find comprehensive description of this curriculum.
Implementation of the BRESO Theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum for European Breast Surgeons
Please click here to find more information about the implementation of the BRESO Theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum for European Breast Surgeons
Fellowship & Observership Opportunities
This section includes Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship programmes which have been approved under the RCS Senior Clinical Fellowship Scheme, and a gallery of recent Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellows.
The Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) Education and Training Committee has been working with members of the ABS to identify centres prepared to offer local observerships.
On this page you will find a list of centres across the UK that are prepared to offer observerships for UK Consultants, Specialty Doctors and Trainees wishing to gain further knowledge on various surgical procedures.
The ABS are only acting as an information point and are not responsible for any accreditation of the observerships undertaken and stress that this is a local arrangement to be made between the host and the observer.
If you have any questions about these observerships or if you are interested in becoming an observer at any of these units, please contact Margarita Bartholomew (mbartholomew@absgbi.org.uk) or telephone 0207 869 6853.
Observership Centres
- Mr Steven Thrush - Worcestershire Royal Hospital
- Mr Simon Cawthorn - Southmead Hospital, Bristol
- Mr Avi Agrawal - Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth
- Mr Richard Sutton - Royal United Hospital, Bath
- Miss Raghavan Vidya - Royal Wolverhampton Hospital
- Ms Siobhan Laws - Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester
- Mr Douglas Ferguson - Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
- Mr Brendan Smith - Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
- Mr Yazan Masannat - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
- Ms Sue Down - James Paget Breast Unit, Great Yarmouth
Breast Care Training
The next iteration of this course is due to start on 14 September 2026
Designed for Advanced health care professionals (HCPs), Breast Trainees, Staff Nurses, Junior Doctors, Medical Students and Physician Associates, this online, interactive course has been created through a collaboration between the Association of Breast Surgery and Blended Learning UK.
The course introduces HCPs to the evidence based practice of breast care management in the multi-disciplinary setting that enhances MDT team working and supports improved patient outcomes.
The full programme runs for twelve weeks, giving you time to develop knowledge and skills in a structured yet convenient way.
Course fees: £500
This is a Level 7 postgraduate CPD unit delivered by The University of Manchester in collaboration with specialist breast care teams from The Nightingale Centre and The Christie. Suitable as a stand-alone professional development course or as part of a wider postgraduate programme, the module explores key aspects of breast care nursing, including risk assessment, screening, communication, holistic symptom management, multidisciplinary working, and current treatment approaches.
This is an introductory two-day course designed for nurses and allied health professionals involved in the care of patients with breast cancer. Delivered virtually, the programme provides an overview of breast cancer, treatment pathways and the key issues affecting patients throughout their care journey. Ideal for those new to breast cancer care or looking to broaden their understanding.
This online academic module from The Royal Marsden School is designed for registered healthcare professionals working with patients affected by breast cancer. The course explores key areas of breast cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment options, and supportive care, while encouraging critical reflection on how breast cancer impacts patients throughout their cancer journey. Aligned with national cancer education frameworks and multidisciplinary practice standards, the module provides an opportunity to develop evidence-based knowledge and enhance professional practice in breast cancer care.
This MSc/PGCert at City St George’s, University of London offers a range of standalone modules that enable Breast Clinicians and Breast Care Nurses to develop their clinical knowledge and skills without committing to a full degree programme. Designed to reflect the requirements of contemporary breast care services, these flexible modules provide opportunities to enhance specialist practice, engage with the latest evidence-based approaches, and support ongoing professional development within multidisciplinary breast teams.
A short, flexible online course that introduces healthcare professionals to the principles of collecting, interpreting and recording genetic family histories. Particularly relevant for Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs), the course provides practical skills that can support risk assessment, referral decisions and personalised patient care, including in areas such as hereditary breast cancer. The course is designed for those with little or no previous genomics knowledge.
This course provides a practical introduction to cancer genomics, genetic counselling, hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic testing. It is particularly relevant for Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) working in breast care, and helps participants develop the knowledge needed to identify patients who may benefit from genetic assessment, take and interpret family histories, support informed consent discussions, and understand the management of hereditary cancers.
