AbstractUndergraduate medical education does not usually involve training in laparoscopic skills despite the fact that minimal access surgery has become the norm in the developed world. We designed a study to evaluate the attitude of sur-geons and medical students to formal teaching of these skills Two surveys were sent; one to fourth year medical students at the University of Bristol and another to specialist laparoscopisurgeons. Student questions centred on whether they would find training in basic laparoscopic skills useful, whilst sur-geons were asked whether it would be acceptable for medical students to assist with a laparoscopic case. Sixty percent [131/
220] of students responded, with 60 % [79/131] of respon-dents stating that they would find assisting with laparoscopic surgery beneficial, despite 79% [103/131] being undecided or having no interest in a surgical career, with 66 % [87/131] stating it would allow them to become more involved during theatre sessions. Eighty-three percent [83/ 100] of surgeons responded, and 74 % [62/83] said they would allow medical students to hold the camera. Seventy percent [65/83] felt that basic knowledge of the equipment was the most important aspect of training, and 66 % [55/83] felt that assisting was the second most important. This is the first study to look at both the student’s and surgeon’s views on laparoscopic training of medical students. The study highlights the benefits of acquir-ing laparoscopic skills such as camera holding and assisting. In response, we have set up a course for students prior to placements in surgical specialties.