Wednesday 6th April 2022
Useful Information and Reminders
Change in Exceptional Circumstances
If you are due to start FY1 in August 2022, or are a current trainee due to start FY2 in August 2022, and you have experienced an exceptional change in circumstances since you applied to the foundation training programme which affects your ability to complete training in your current location, please let us know via completion of this form:
We are only able to consider an exceptional change in circumstances that can be evidenced and will not consider any requests for programme swaps between doctors who have had no change to their personal circumstances. The criteria are those in the guidance for IFSTs 2022 on the UKFPO website:
- Parental responsibilities
- Primary carer responsibilities
- Medical condition or disability for which ongoing follow-up for the condition in the specified location is an absolute requirement
- Unique circumstances (these must be unique, not other circumstances which do not meet the requirements for the other criteria)
For all criteria supporting information is required, the supporting information per category can be found on pages 6-8 of the UKFPO IFST guidance here: https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/resources/2-year-foundation-programme-documents/
Please submit your additional supporting information via our applicant support portal (direct link to query form can be found here): https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/tickets/new?form_7=true
The form is open until 4pm on 19th April 2022 with all submissions being reviewed by the foundation school directors on 20th April 2022. There are very limited numbers of alternative programmes available so it is highly unlikely we will be able to place successful applicants in their first-choice alternative location, but we will do all we can to take your circumstances into account.
COMING SOON: ARCP Requirements Guidance – 2021-22 trainees on 2021 curriculum – August 2021 to July 2022
Meanwhile, please refer to pages 49-50 of the 2021 UKFP Curriculum (that is, the ARCP checklist) using the link below
https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/curriculum/arcp/
Foundation doctors in GP and psychiatry placements contributing to acute services
Please see below link reminder regarding Foundation doctors in community placements contributing to acute services Foundation doctors in GP and psychiatry placements contributing to acute services
Time out of training (Toot)
We would like to remind all trainees and trainers that the maximum permitted absence from training, other than annual leave is 20 days within each 12 month period of the foundation programme. Where a doctors absence goes above 20 days this will trigger a review of whether they need to have an extra period of training.
Update on IST (Improving Surgical Training) recruitment
On behalf of Prof Sheona MacLeod, Deputy Medical Director, Education Reform, HEE.
HEE have agreed to pause the recruitment to ALL IST posts in England for 2022. The number of surgical training places will be maintained as posts will be added back into core surgical recruitment. Wales and Scotland will continue to recruit to run through IST.
Click here for further information
PSG Guidance
Please find below a helpful PDF guidance document “The importance of the Placement Supervision Group (PSG) feedback tool”
Please share this with your trainees, FPDs and local FP faculty.
Foundation ALS Update
We can confirm that Trusts can continue to claim the costs of ALS courses for their Foundation trainees from the study leave budget for the 2021/22 financial year.
Please note that from 1st January 2022, ALS courses will only be reimbursed up to a maximum of £275 per trainee.
As in the previous financial year we will not be providing bulk payments for these courses. Instead, we request that you claim for these courses once they are delivered via the locally-delivered tab on your study leave monthly return. Please note the usual rules for locally-delivered claims will apply – only trainees in a HEE-registered Foundation training programme can be reimbursed.
What are the 2021-22 TAB (Team Assessment of Behaviour) window dates for London and KSS Foundation Schools?
The recommended dates for TAB are detailed below but these dates are not mandatory. More information on the TAB process can be found on the Horus Website.
Placement 3
Opens: Monday 18th April 2022
Closes: Friday 20th May 2022
Foundation Doctor Role and Responsibilities
Please use the following link to the updated ‘Foundation Doctor Role and Responsibilities within the Local Education Provider and Minimum Requirements for Clinical Supervision of Foundation Doctors’, document.
Foundation Doctor Role and Responsibilities
Foundation guidance produced by the UKFPO for Foundation Trainees
Please find below link to guidance for Foundation Trainees recently produced by the UKFPO.
Updated ARCP Requirement Guidance
Updated ARCP guidance has been published for trainees on 2016 Foundation Programme curriculum for ARCPs taking place between 1 October 2021 and 31 July 2022
ARCP Requirements Guidance – 2021-22 trainees on 2016 curriculum
*Please note: This guidance does not apply to any trainee who started either their F1 or F2 year on/after 4 August 2021, as they will be on the 2021 Foundation Programme curriculum.*
2022 PSA FS dates
Please note the remaining dates for PSA sittings (all held at 1pm):
Friday 29th April 2022
Contacting the London and KSS Foundation Schools
There has recently been an increase in emails/messages being sent to personal inboxes. Please be reminded that contact with the Foundation Team in HET should be through the PGMDE Support Portal rather than to individuals email addresses or shared mailboxes. This will ensure that your query can be directed to the correct person within the team and dealt with as quickly as possible. Please click here to be directed to the PGMDE Support Portal.
Please do not use F1.LASE@Hee.nhs.uk, F2.lase@hee.nhs.uk, FPEnquiries.lase@hee.nhs.uk or personal inboxes.
UKFPO Bulletin
To read the latest UKFPO Bulletin access the link below:
https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/ukfpo-bulletin-03-february-202/
Courses, Events, Research and Competitions
RCPath pathology-themed competitions
PAOLA DOMIZIO UNDERGRADUATE ESSAY PRIZE – CLOSES 25 APRIL 2022
The Paola Domizio Undergraduate Essay Prize is named after Professor Paola Domizio, an RCPath Fellow who contributed a huge amount to the work of the College and to pathology education. The competition is open to UK students studying an undergraduate course in a relevant discipline, such as medicine or biomedicine. This year’s essay question is 'Which one scientific discovery or pathologist has had the most significant impact on medicine/pathology in the last 60 years?'. Entries of up to 1000 words will be accepted until Monday 25 April 2022. The winner will receive £250. For more information and to apply, please visit: www.rcpath.org/essay-competitions.
HUGH PLATT FOUNDATION ESSAY PRIZE – CLOSES 23 MAY 2022
The Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize invites UK-based FY1 and FY2 doctors to explore how pathology has changed in the last 60 years in an essay of up to 1000 words. The competition is posthumously named after Dr Hugh Platt, an RCPath Fellow who contributed a huge amount to the work of the College, and to the support of postgraduate medical training in pathology disciplines. The Foundation essay prize will close to entrants on Monday 23 May 2022. The winner will receive £250. For more information and to apply, please visit: www.rcpath.org/essay-competitions.
THE ART OF PATHOLOGY COMPETITION KINDLY SPONSORED BY SONIC HEALTHCARE UK – CLOSES 30 MAY 2022
The College’s Art of Pathology competition is open to people of all ages from the UK and abroad until 30 May 2022 and invites participants to explore pathology in a unique and creative way. This year’s theme is ‘Pathology: past, present and future’. Up to £1000 will be awarded to one winner from each of the three age categories and the best entries are also published on our website and featured in the College magazine, The Bulletin. Find out more at www.rcpath.org/artofpathology.
Please feel free to contact publicengagement@rcpath.org if you have any queries.
National AFP Conference: 11th June 2022
Registrations and submissions are now open for this years’ National AFP Conference to be held on Saturday 11th June 2022, hosted by the University of Bristol. Please be advised to book early as due to current Covid guidelines our capacity is limited to 200.
Full details, programme and registration/abstract submission links can be found on the UKFPO webpage and News Bulletin site (please see links below):
https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/
https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/2022-national-academic-foundation-programme-conference/
We look forward to welcoming you to Bristol and are excited about finally being able to hold a face2face conference. We have excellent speakers and there will be multiple opportunities for networking with your peers and experienced academics. The modest fee of £20 (cheap as chips) includes lunch and a wine reception.
This year we're including a new presentation "Tall Tales and Epic Fails - after AFP what came next?" and would like to invite former AFPs to take part. Would you please flag this up to all your past AFPs.
We are looking for alumni of the academic foundation programme who can tell us about their “interesting” academic career following graduation and completion of foundation training. We have allocated slots for a set of short talks (10 mins each) on “what came next”. This is an opportunity for them to feedback to the next generation and offer them the benefit of their insights and experiences. We will select the best stories for presentation on the basis of a short pitch and will cover the travel and registration costs for the conference for those selected. The trainees/medical students will vote on the day for the best talk with an associated prize award.
Submission deadline March 25th 2022 - for face2face conference June 11th in Bristol.
Here is the link for the "Tall Tales" pitch submissions:
https://primarycare.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/tall-tales-and-epic-fails-after-afp-what-came-next-na
Belfast Eye Conference 2022: Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July 2022
We are thrilled to announce the second annual virtual Belfast Eye Conference! Hosted by Queen’s University Belfast.
At Belfast Eye Conference, you will meet like-minded healthcare students, early-stage doctors and early career vision scientists from around the world who are equally fascinated by clinical ophthalmology and vision related research.
The conference will provide the stage for speakers who will give broad and varied perspectives on eye related disease. Consultant ophthalmologists will give clinical talks relating to their sub-specialty, and members of the multi-disciplinary team will discuss how they support eye health.
Vision science is a strong and active research field, particularly in Northern Ireland. We are excited to showcase cutting edge vision related research from scientists at Queen’s University Belfast.
Belfast Eye Conference will also provide a platform for delegates - you! - to showcase your vision related research, in oral and poster formats. You may have done a vision related case study or audit, summer studentship, intercalated project, special study module work or PhD. Whatever the level, submit an abstract today!
Most importantly, Belfast Eye Conference is free of charge to attend. The event will be held virtually on Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July 2022.
To register, see the programme, download an abstract submission form and see the deadline, please visit: www.qub.ac.uk/belfasteyeconference
Early Career Clinical Pharmacology Competition 2022
We have recently launched the 2022 Early Career Clinical Pharmacology Competition, hosted by the British Pharmacological Society. The competition is open to medical and pharmacy students, doctors in training (up to and including IMT) and pharmacists (bands 5-7).
The aim of the competition is to encourage students and healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge and skills of pharmacology and safe and effective prescribing and to celebrate their valuable contributions to the field of clinical pharmacology.
To be eligible for the competition, applicants must have a poster accepted for presentation at our annual conference Pharmacology 2022. Applicants must attend the conference to present their poster to the competition judges, who will decide the top posters in the undergraduate and postgraduate categories.
We welcome abstracts relating to:
- Research projects linked to clinical pharmacology
- Audit or quality improvement project on the use of medicines
- Education abstracts on safe prescribing or use of medicines
- Interesting case reports related to clinical pharmacology. Examples could include (but not limited to), adverse effects of medication, drug-drug interactions, polypharmacy, role of therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenomics
Presenters of the best undergraduate and postgraduate posters will receive a £250 prize in a ceremony at Pharmacology 2022. They will also be invited to give a 5-minute presentation about their project at a subsequent national training event for clinical pharmacologists.
Pharmacology 2022 is held from 13 – 14 September 2022 in Liverpool. For further details, visit the Pharmacology 2022 event website.
For more details about what makes a successful abstract and to hear from past winners, read this article in The Prescriber.
We want this opportunity to be accessible to all. Find out about bursaries for Pharmacology 2022.
Access the point of care tool BMJ Best Practice for free
BMJ Best Practice takes you quickly and accurately to the latest evidence-based information, whenever and wherever you need it.
Our step-by-step guidance on diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and prevention is updated daily using robust evidence-based methodologies.
This tool is freely available to all healthcare professionals who work for the NHS in England. You can register for free here https://www.bmj.com/company/hee/
If your institution would like to receive further information on BMJ Best Practice, please contact Dr. Kieran Walsh, Clinical Director at BMJ. Dr. Walsh can deliver talks for Foundation Programme doctors at their training sessions or provide information on areas such as the local HEE/BMJ clinical champion scheme. Contact Dr. Kieran Walsh at kmwalsh@bmj.com.
New video resource for foundation trainees
A new video for all foundation trainees, foundation schools and trusts, helping them to understand more about the Foundation Programme Charter, has been shared.
Please click here to launch the Foundation Programme Charter video.
Further videos including Foundation Programme Review and Self Development time can also be found here
Foundation careers webpages
Our revised Foundation careers webpages which contain recorded versions of the FY1 webinars on self-awareness and career exploration which we delivered to trainees over the summer, can be found below:
Self Awareness | London (hee.nhs.uk)
Career Exploration | London (hee.nhs.uk)