Frank SmithClinician

Biography

Professor Frank Smith is Emeritus Professor of Vascular Surgery and Surgical Education at the University of Bristol and Vice President and Trustee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), a role to which he was elected in 2024 for a three-year term. He trained in vascular surgery in the West Midlands, Edinburgh and the South-West, undertaking travelling fellowships to Boston, Denver, Los Angeles and Seattle. He has held roles including Chair of the Intercollegiate Board for Basic Surgical Examinations (MRCS) for the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons (2017–20), Lead for National Vascular Trainee Selection (2015–18), and Programme Director for the Confidential Reporting System for Surgery (CORESS, 2008–23). In 2025, he was appointed by the Minister of Health as a Non-Executive Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In press commentary he has consistently argued for capital investment in NHS infrastructure — particularly operating theatres — as essential to reducing surgical waiting lists, and has raised concerns about the impact of cancelled elective operations on patients.

References

1. 1.Welcoming our new Vice-President 2024 — Royal College of Surgeons — Confirms election as Vice President of RCS England in May 2024 for a three-year term from July 2024; academic role at University of Bristol
2. 2.Board of Trustees — Royal College of Surgeons of England — Full career biography: training, RCS roles, CORESS, NatSSIPs, NICE NED appointment in 2025
3. 3.College Council — Royal College of Surgeons of England — Confirms Council membership, Vice Presidency, and career history including vascular SAC and training roles
4. 4.CORESS | Professor Frank Smith — Confirms MRCS Chair, CORESS Programme Director role, surgical safety work, and NICE NED appointment
5. 5.Surgeons respond to study finding widespread cancellations and postponements of NHS elective surgery — Royal College of Surgeons

Expertise

Cited on

• Hospital discharge / bed-blocking
• NHS waiting lists

Stated areas of expertise

• NHS elective waiting lists
• Surgical workforce policy
• NHS capital infrastructure
• Surgical safety standards
• Vascular surgery
• Surgical education and training

Notable achievements

• Elected Vice President and Trustee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2024 for a three-year term commencing July 2024. Source ↗
• Appointed by the Minister of Health as Non-Executive Director of NICE in 2025. Source ↗
• Chaired the Intercollegiate Board for Basic Surgical Examinations (MRCS) on behalf of the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons of the UK and Ireland (2017–20). Source ↗
• Served as Programme Director for the Confidential Reporting System for Surgery (CORESS) from 2008 to 2023. Source ↗
• Contributed to developing the National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs) through roles with NCEPOD and the NHS England Never Events Task Force. Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “High-quality care before and after surgery is just as important as the operation itself. The findings underline the need for earlier, better coordinated care so patients are in the best possible condition when they reach the operating theatre.”

  vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · One in 10 operations in England cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice ↗

• “While there has been progress in reducing the longest waits overall, too many patients are still waiting longer than the NHS's 18-week standard for the surgery they need.”

  Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · NHS waiting lists · 12 Aug 2026 · Overall waiting lists increase in the UK ↗

Source references

1. One in 10 operations in England cancelled with less than 24 hours’ noticetheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. Overall waiting lists increase in the UKhealthcaretoday.com · 12 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/college-governance/board-trustees/
• Staff pagehttps://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/college-governance/council/
• Press office emailpressoffice@rcseng.ac.ukpublished here ↗
• Press office phone020 7869 6053published here ↗
• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-smith-15b68b80/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.