What Does FRCS Mean?

The Royal College of Surgeons supervises and promotes surgical education in England.

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) is an organization focused on promoting and standardizing surgical education and research in the UK. A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) is a surgeon either in training or practice.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of the RCS is to "[enable] surgeons to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care." They supervise surgical training, provide seminars and workshops, provide support for research physicians in the United Kingdom and support surgeons throughout their careers. The RCS does not, however, provide discipline or complaints to surgeons, nor do they register surgeons with the General Medical Council.

History

The RCS originated from the Fellowship of Surgeons, which gained recognition from the Crown in 1492. It joined with the Company of Barbers to form the Company of Barber-Surgeons in 1540. In 1745, the Company of Surgeons broke away to form its own organization, which earned a Royal Charter in 1800.

Locations

The term RCS most commonly refers to the Royal College of Surgeons of England, but there are other Colleges with the same title. There are Colleges in Ireland, Edinburgh and Australia as they all recognize the same monarchy.

References

• The Royal College of Surgeons: About the College
• Royal College of Surgeons: History of the College