Revolutionising surgical education: how NHS England’s PGVLE is redefining training for surgeons

NHS England’s Postgraduate Virtual Learning Environment (PGVLE) is a pioneering initiative that is transforming surgical training. It provides a national online training programme that integrates seamlessly with the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme. Designed to support surgeons in training who are preparing for FRCS and MRCS exams, PGVLE delivers live and recorded webinars, interactive learning modules and structured specialty training, ensuring equitable access to high-quality education. With increasing pressures on training (such as rota constraints, educator availability and the impact of the European Working Time Directive), PGVLE replaces lost local teaching with a centrally coordinated, high-quality alternative. Key initiatives in PGVLE include the core surgical training hub, which provides structured learning for those in core training, and FlexFacs, a programme originally developed for oral and maxillofacial surgery, which has demonstrated the value of specialty-specific digital education. These initiatives have laid the foundations for the National Online Training Programme. It is led by National Online Training Programme Directors and National Online Training Fellows, who oversee content creation for ten surgical specialties and a common curricular content module. Using H5P, SCORM and BigBlueButton, PGVLE provides engaging, interactive education, supporting trainees across the UK and Ireland. Backed by NHS England, the surgical royal colleges and specialty associations, it is designed to be sustainable, scalable and adaptable. More than just an online platform, PGVLE is shaping the future of surgical training in the UK and beyond.