Open AccessThe licensing of surgeons by RCS England and its predecessors (extended online version)
Author(s) -
JS Bolwell
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
bulletin of the royal college of surgeons of england
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1478-7075
pISSN - 1473-6357
DOI - 10.1308/rcsbull.2021.55
Subject(s) - timeline , craft , context (archaeology) , medicine , history , law , library science , political science , archaeology , computer science
This article appeared in the print version of this issue in a shortened form, which can be found in Bulletin May 2021, Volume 103, Issue 3, pp144-148. DOI: 10.1308/rcsbull.2021.60. Preserved records suggest that the first licences to practise surgery in England and Wales were issued by craft guilds from the 14 th century and probably earlier. A brief chronicle is presented of the training, examining, qualifying and licensing of surgeons by The Royal College of Surgeons of England and its direct predecessors, now a part of history. The context in which these organisations were founded and evolved is outlined along a timeline of almost 700 years. The landmark Medical Acts of 1858 and 1886 are briefly reviewed. Mention is also made of the abolition of the two non-university qualifying examinations that were still being offered in England at the end of the 20 th century and of the sale of both jointly owned Examination Halls.