Table 1.

Requirements for trainers and training programmes.

Requirement	Recommendations
Trainers	•The Training Programme Director and Educational Supervisors should have been trained in the delivery of teaching, learning and assessment. •TPDs and Educational Supervisors should have protected time for educational activities and adequate administrative support. •TPDs and Educational Supervisors should be familiar with the contents and requirements of the curriculum and the use of assessment tools. •The TPD has overall responsibility for the placement of trainees to ensure that training opportunities are structured and that training is delivered in the 3 stages described in the curriculum. •The TPD should lead an Annual Performance Review for each trainee. This is usually undertaken in the context of a Panel reviewing the performance of all trainees using assessment tools as described in the curriculum
Education programme	Face to face and virtual learning opportunities should be available throughout training e.g. •Mortality and morbidity meetings •Journal clubs •Educational neuroscience lectures/seminars/webinars covering a wide selection of the curriculum provided on a regular and sustained basis •Multidisciplinary team meetings in key specialty areas
	•Delivery of teaching by trainees
Research opportunities	• Trainees should be enabled to develop an understanding of research methodology including assessment of published literature. •Trainees should have opportunities to undertake supervised clinical and/or basic science research. •Trainees should be encouraged to recruit patients into approved clinical trials.
Audit and Quality Improvement	•Trainees should work with trainers to develop audit and quality improvement programmes aiming to improve patient care.
Presentations	•Trainees should be encouraged to present research, audits and quality improvement projects (poster and oral) at national and international meetings.
Courses	•Trainees should attend simulation training throughout the training programme. •Trainees should be encouraged to attend relevant training courses in neurosurgery (e.g. European Training Course), the management of trauma and ‘hands-on” cadaveric courses.
Training Programme Hospital Requirements	•Sufficient volume of adult and paediatric cases to support training in the breadth of the specialty – this may involve trainees rotating between centres to obtain sufficient experience in all key areas. Logbooks should be used to evaluate surgical opportunities for trainees. Indicative logbook numbers are provided in Appendix 1. •Dedicated neurosurgical theatres (24h access) with a microscope in each theatre and availability of commonly used equipment e.g. neuronavigational system, ultrasonic aspirator, stereotactic equipment, endoscopy equipment, instrumentation for spinal fixation procedures. •Neurosurgical intensive care beds. •Availability of allied specialties e.g. Neuroanaesthesia, neurology, neuroradiology with on-site CT and MRI, neuropathology, clinical oncology, paediatrics. Rehabilitation. •Sufficient manpower to provide safe clinical services within the limits of any Working Time directives. •Outpatient clinics with learning opportunities for trainees. • Library with electronic access to key journals •Office space for trainers and trainees •Resources to support clinical and/or basic science research activities •Governance systems responsible for infection control, prescribing, reporting systems (e.g. for ‘near misses’ and when things go wrong) and medical records. •Transparency in reviews of training conducted by regulatory or advisory bodies.