What to expect heading into the foundation programme
A new era of training for doctors has begun. In August 2005, a two-year, structured training programme to bridge the gap between medical school and specialist and GP training was launched. From now on, all UK medical school graduates are required to complete a foundation programme, which is designed to equip them with the generic clinical and professional skills they will need in the changing world of medicine. This marks one of the first steps in achieving the UK health minister’s commitment to modernising medical careers in response to the ever-changing needs of patients, doctors and the NHS.
Junior doctors who are entering the foundation programme can expect a trainee-centred programme that is structured to, and assessed against, explicit standards. They will have ongoing support from a named educational supervisor and, to ensure doctors can make an informed choice for their next steps in medicine, they have access to careers advice through their postgraduate deanery.
The foundation programme structure
The first year of foundation training (F1) typically consists of three, four-month placements – in medicine, surgery and another specialty. It is designed to enable doctors to meet the standards required for full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Doctors gain competences in core clinical skills, as well as other professional skills such as teamwork and communication.
In the second year of foundation (F2) doctors continue to develop and consolidate clinical competences, at the same time exploring their career options. It is typically made up of three four-month placements, possibly including opportunities to gain experience in a shortage specialty, general practice and/or academic medicine. They may also apply for one-week ‘taster’ placements in additional specialties, which give trainees the opportunity to try out a number of different specialties before making their career decision. While each day presents new learning opportunities, the formal taught programme of education will address the core elements of the curriculum.
F1 doctors will have up to three hours per week of protected, bleep-free time set aside for a timetabled learning programme. Arrangements may vary between deaneries and, alternatively, this time may be aggregated to give seven days of whole day release. F2 doctors will have access to up to 30 days’ study leave.
A new career framework for doctors
Beyond foundation training, exciting changes lie ahead. Table 1 shows the newly agreed career framework for doctors. How candidates are selected for specific specialist training programmes is yet to be finalised and the four UK health departments are working with the royal colleges and the postgraduate deans to develop a fair and effective selection process, which will be announced later this year. With nearly 5,000 doctors in the foundation programme currently and almost 6,000 on track for 2006, we anticipate our medical workforce will continue to be one of the strongest in the world with broad-based effective training as their foundation.
