Recommendation BRIS-103: Royal College of Surgeons to develop training and explore surgeon age limits
From Bristol Heart Inquiry — Final Report, published 18 July 2001.
Recommendation
The Royal College of Surgeons of England should, in partnership with university medical schools and the NHS, be enabled to develop its unit for the training of surgeons, particularly in new techniques. It should also explore the question of whether there is an age beyond which surgeons, specifically in areas such as paediatric cardiac surgery, should not attempt new procedures or even should not continue in a particular field of surgery.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
DHSC and NHS England state no delivery position (27 February 2026)
Please see response to Recommendation 102 (Surgical innovation).
The Royal College of Surgeons guidance on surgical innovation states that arrangements should include provision of evidence that the new technique is safe and that all clinical staff who plan to use the new technique will undertake relevant training, mentorship and assessment.
Site note: DHSC and NHS England's own account of progress, supplied to the Thirlwall Inquiry in September 2024 and printed in the Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026). It is not a finding of the Inquiry. Their reviewed extent of implementation reads “Superseded”. Table row: section 6.2 No. 103, PDF page 117.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
The Government agreed with this recommendation.
In its January 2002 response, the Department of Health said it would review the need for further development of the Royal College of Surgeons’ training unit. The Department said it had asked the Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services Review Group to consider age limits for surgeons undertaking paediatric cardiac surgery, and it would then consider this for other specialties and new procedures.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 6.2 No. 103, PDF page 105-106.
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- DHSC and NHS England
Delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding