Evolution of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgical Training in the UK: A Qualitative Study.

Cleft palate repair is clearly a technically challenging procedure to learn and teach with the potential to cause harm if performed incorrectly. Positive changes have been made to improve exposure to palate surgery, encourage practice away from the patient, and increase supervised practical experience. The role of colleagues in providing mentorship and support appears invaluable. We provide some simple recommendations that may improve the training experience and ensure parity for all trainees.