{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,1]],"date-time":"2026-11-01T11:46:57Z","timestamp":1793533617994,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787961600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787961600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Robotic Surg"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Robotic-assisted surgery is now established across multiple surgical specialties in the United Kingdom, yet training for surgical residents remains variable, resource-dependent, and insufficiently standardised at national level. This study sought multispecialty expert consensus on the essential components of a national robotic surgery training curriculum for UK surgical residents. A four-round modified Delphi study was conducted between September and December 2025 under the RaDaR network of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Round 1 used open-ended questionnaires with independent dual-coder thematic analysis; Round 2 was a hybrid face-to-face and online meeting with live anonymous electronic voting; Rounds 3 and 4 were online questionnaires addressing statements not yet reaching the pre-defined consensus threshold of 70% agreement or greater. The panel comprised consultant surgeons, surgical trainees, curriculum and training authorities, and industry representatives with deliberately bounded, non-clinical input. 25 participants completed the final round. Of 26 statements, 22 (84%) reached consensus. A three-tier framework of device, basic skills, and procedural training was endorsed, with device training introduced during Phase 1 (76%) and basic skills and procedural training introduced after Phase 1 (96% and 88% respectively). Competency assessment integrated within the Annual Review of Competence Progression was supported (84%), alongside multi-source funding; trainee self-funding was not endorsed. This consensus offers a pragmatic foundation for standardising robotic surgery training for UK residents, contingent on coordinated investment in platform access, simulation infrastructure, and faculty development.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T04:23:17Z","timestamp":1787977397000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["National multi-specialty robotic surgery training curriculum and implementation for UK surgical residents: a delphi consensus"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Nader","family":"Francis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9212-1189","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Taner","family":"Shakir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Esther","family":"McLarty","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fares","family":"Haddad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adam","family":"Farquharson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrew","family":"Garnham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Somiah","family":"Siddiq","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aidan","family":"Bannon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Justin","family":"Collins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nuha","family":"Yassin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"name":"the RCS England RaDaR Delphi Consensus Working Group for Robotic Residents\u2019 Training Curriculum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shakil","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leanne","family":"Ashrafian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sas","family":"Banerjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ginny","family":"Bowbrick","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ben","family":"Challacombe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francisca","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jonathan","family":"Ghosh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew","family":"Harris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ibrahim","family":"Ibrahim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Martin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Niall","family":"McGonigle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Ninkovic-Hall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sadasivam","family":"Selvakumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vinita","family":"Shekar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kaji","family":"Sritharan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"3864_CR1","unstructured":"Intuitive Surgical. 2025 Annual Report.(2026). Accessed April 9, 2026. https:\/\/isrg.intuitive.com\/static-files\/d01bbc25-f8cf-433b-8ebb-b5afc1926236"},{"key":"3864_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-024-01973-z","author":"MWE Boal","year":"2024","unstructured":"Boal MWE, Tan JJ, Sangarapillai S et al (2024) A review of minimal access surgery provision and training within the United Kingdom. J Robot Surg. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-024-01973-z","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"key":"3864_CR3","unstructured":"RCS (Eng) (2025). Robotic assisted surgery: a Pathway to the Future."},{"key":"3864_CR4","unstructured":"NHS. (2026) The national cancer plan for england: delivering world class cancer care. Accessed February 13, 2026. https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/media\/698315a35a7e802e96d343a4\/national-cancer-plan-for-england-delivering-world-class-cancer-care.pdf"},{"issue":"7","key":"3864_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.62463\/surgery.273","volume":"2","author":"T Shakir","year":"2025","unstructured":"Shakir T, Hassouna M, Francis N, Chand M (2025) Robotics training: residents perspective. Impact Surgery 2(7):230\u2013232. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.62463\/surgery.273","journal-title":"Impact Surgery"},{"key":"3864_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-021-01344-y","author":"CA Fleming","year":"2022","unstructured":"Fleming CA, Ali O, Clements JM et al (2022) Surgical trainee experience and opinion of robotic surgery in surgical training and vision for the future: a snapshot study of pan-specialty surgical trainees. J Robot Surg. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-021-01344-y","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"key":"3864_CR7","unstructured":"Royal college of surgeons of Ireland (2025). RCSI Robotic Surgery Curriculum: A National Framework for Soft Tissue Robotic Surgery Training in Ireland."},{"key":"3864_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4293\/JSLS.2019.00045","author":"H Moit","year":"2019","unstructured":"Moit H, Dwyer A, De Sutter M, Heinzel S, Crawford D (2019) A standardized robotic training curriculum in a general surgery program. JSLS. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4293\/JSLS.2019.00045","journal-title":"JSLS"},{"issue":"7","key":"3864_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.62463\/surgery.280","volume":"2","author":"D Costello","year":"2025","unstructured":"Costello D, El Mohamed J, Larkins K et al (2025) Development and early implementation of a platform-agnostic robotic surgery curriculum. Impact Surgery 2(7):326\u2013332. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.62463\/surgery.280","journal-title":"Impact Surgery"},{"issue":"1","key":"3864_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/S11701-024-02062-X","volume":"18","author":"MWE Boal","year":"2024","unstructured":"Boal MWE, Afzal A, Gorard J et al (2024) Development and evaluation of a societal core robotic surgery accreditation curriculum for the UK. J Robot Surg 18(1):305. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/S11701-024-02062-X","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"3864_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1023","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eururo.2019.02.031","volume":"75","author":"A Larcher","year":"2019","unstructured":"Larcher A, De Naeyer G, Turri F et al (2019) The ERUS curriculum for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: structure definition and pilot clinical validation. Eur Urol 75(6):1023\u20131031. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.eururo.2019.02.031","journal-title":"Eur Urol"},{"issue":"3","key":"3864_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.surge.2025.12.004","volume":"24","author":"RA Keenan","year":"2026","unstructured":"Keenan RA, O\u2019Keeffe DA, O\u2019Neill A et al (2026) The RCSI curriculum for robotic surgery training \u2013 setting the standard for future minimally invasive surgeons. The Surgeon 24(3):143\u2013152. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.surge.2025.12.004","journal-title":"The Surgeon"},{"key":"3864_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-022-01518-2","author":"JR Burke","year":"2023","unstructured":"Burke JR, Fleming CA, King M et al (2023) Utilising an accelerated Delphi process to develop consensus on the requirement and components of a pre-procedural core robotic surgery curriculum. J Robot Surg. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-022-01518-2","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"issue":"7","key":"3864_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1308\/rcsbull.2020.185","volume":"102","author":"F Dixon","year":"2020","unstructured":"Dixon F, Keeler B (2020) Robotic surgery: training, competence assessment and credentialing. Bull R Coll Surg Engl 102(7):302\u2013306. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1308\/rcsbull.2020.185","journal-title":"Bull R Coll Surg Engl"},{"key":"3864_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00384-026-05129-3","author":"M Harris","year":"2026","unstructured":"Harris M, Mohan H, Martins BAA, Essani R, Saklani A, Harji D (2026) Training and credentialing in robotic general surgery. Int J Colorectal Dis. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00384-026-05129-3","journal-title":"Int J Colorectal Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"3864_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1111\/bju.15993","volume":"132","author":"R Diamand","year":"2023","unstructured":"Diamand R, D\u2019Hondt F, Mjaess G et al (2023) Teaching robotic cystectomy: prospective pilot clinical validation of the <scp>ERUS<\/scp> training curriculum. BJU Int 132(1):84\u201391. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bju.15993","journal-title":"BJU Int"},{"key":"3864_CR17","unstructured":"RCOG (2024) SITM: Robotic Assisted Gynaecological Surgery (RAGS)."},{"key":"3864_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/rcs.1559","author":"R Smith","year":"2014","unstructured":"Smith R, Patel V, Satava R (2014) Fundamentals of robotic surgery: a course of basic robotic surgery skills based upon a 14-society consensus template of outcomes measures and curriculum development. Int J Med Robot Comput Assist Surg. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/rcs.1559","journal-title":"Int J Med Robot Comput Assist Surg"},{"issue":"4","key":"3864_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"776","DOI":"10.1111\/codi.16904","volume":"26","author":"S Tou","year":"2024","unstructured":"Tou S, Au S, Clancy C et al (2024) European Society of Coloproctology guideline on training in robotic colorectal surgery (2024). Colorectal Dis 26(4):776\u2013801. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/codi.16904","journal-title":"Colorectal Dis"},{"key":"3864_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216317690685","author":"S J\u00fcnger","year":"2017","unstructured":"J\u00fcnger S, Payne SA, Brine J, Radbruch L, Brearley SG (2017) Guidance on conducting and REporting DElphi studies (CREDES) in palliative care: recommendations based on a methodological systematic review. Palliat Med. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0269216317690685","journal-title":"Palliat Med"},{"key":"3864_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/codi.14637","author":"M G\u00f3mez Ruiz","year":"2019","unstructured":"G\u00f3mez Ruiz M, Alfieri S, Becker T et al (2019) Expert consensus on a train-the-trainer curriculum for robotic colorectal surgery. Colorectal Dis. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/codi.14637","journal-title":"Colorectal Dis"},{"issue":"1","key":"3864_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-025-02685-8","volume":"19","author":"JW Collins","year":"2025","unstructured":"Collins JW, Francis N, Haddad F et al (2025) Digital transformation of robotic surgery train the trainer \u2018TTT\u2019 courses: training the trainer in technique and technology (the 4Ts course). J Robot Surg 19(1):510. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-025-02685-8","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"issue":"1","key":"3864_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-025-02582-0","volume":"19","author":"M Harris","year":"2025","unstructured":"Harris M, Bannon A, Collins JW (2025) Procedural robotic surgery training: a UK pan-specialty trainee Delphi consensus study. J Robot Surg 19(1):501. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-025-02582-0","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"issue":"7","key":"3864_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.62463\/surgery.289","volume":"2","author":"M Harris","year":"2025","unstructured":"Harris M, Challacombe B, Petropoulou T et al (2025) The big five: training in robotic surgery. Impact Surgery 2(7):226\u2013229. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.62463\/surgery.289","journal-title":"Impact Surgery"},{"key":"3864_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsit-2020-000042","author":"S Patel","year":"2021","unstructured":"Patel S, Rovers MM, Sedelaar MJP et al (2021) How can robot-assisted surgery provide value for money? BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjsit-2020-000042","journal-title":"BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol"},{"key":"3864_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11701-024-01987-7","author":"L Awad","year":"2024","unstructured":"Awad L, Reed B, Bollen E et al (2024) The emerging role of robotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Robot Surg. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-024-01987-7","journal-title":"J Robot Surg"},{"key":"3864_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2929.2006.02610.x","author":"S Yule","year":"2006","unstructured":"Yule S, Flin R, Paterson-Brown S, Maran N, Rowley D (2006) Development of a rating system for surgeons\u2019 non-technical skills. Med Educ. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1365-2929.2006.02610.x","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"3864_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00464-024-10713-1","author":"V Mahendran","year":"2024","unstructured":"Mahendran V, Turpin L, Boal M, Francis NK (2024) Assessment and application of non-technical skills in robotic-assisted surgery: a systematic review. Surg Endosc. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00464-024-10713-1","journal-title":"Surg Endosc"},{"issue":"2","key":"3864_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1007\/s00464-024-11373-x","volume":"39","author":"MG Fadel","year":"2025","unstructured":"Fadel MG, Walshaw J, Pecchini F et al (2025) A pan-European survey of robotic training for gastrointestinal surgery: European Robotic Surgery Consensus (ERSC) initiative. Surg Endosc 39(2):907\u2013921. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00464-024-11373-x","journal-title":"Surg Endosc"}],"container-title":["Journal of Robotic Surgery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T04:23:18Z","timestamp":1787977398000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["3864"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11701-026-03864-x","relation":{},"ISSN":["1863-2491"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1863-2491","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]]},"assertion":[{"value":"21 July 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"15 August 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"29 August 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics statements and patient consent for publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Formal research ethics committee approval was not required for this professional consensus exercise, which involved no patients or patient data; participation by professional stakeholders implied consent.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics approval","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"NF is the research and training lead at the Griffin Institute, which conducts robotic training courses. NY is a proctor for Intuitive Surgical, although work with the RCS is device agnostic. FH receives consultancy fees for Stryker Ltd. All other authors have no relevant competing interest to declare.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Conflict of interest","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"907"}}