New Updates

NEW: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - Foundation Doctor Prize 2025

It’s the time of the year again when the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health requests all Foundation Schools to nominate their most outstanding Foundation Doctors with an interest in Paediatrics for the RCPCH Foundation Doctor Prize 2025.

Any London foundation doctor who wishes to be considered for nomination for this prize please complete the attached MS form by 5pm on Friday 22nd November 2024.

https://forms.office.com/e/pcZj2FYGku                                                                

Further details can be found on the RCPH website:

https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/education-careers/fellowships-and-prizes/foundation-doctor-annual-prizes

***IMPORTANT: F2 Responsible Officer Details***

F2s MUST ensure they are connected to the correct Responsible Officer for Revalidation. It is essential you do not connect to an NHS trust and do not contact the Responsible Officer asking them to connect to you.

You must do this yourself by following the guidance on the GMC website: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/revalidation/my-db-tool  

Current Responsible Officers for London:

• Dr Gary Wares – NHSE Education North London (North Central and East London and North West London)
• Dr Gary Wares – NHSE Education South London

REMINDER: National F1 Induction Survey

Dear Foundation Year One Trainee

The Severn Foundation School is coordinating a project for participation by all F1s. You are invited to complete an F1 trainee induction programme questionnaire. This survey is part of a long-term project to identify any concerns/anxieties you may have about starting your F1 post. The information you provide will help to develop a realistic evaluation of the induction programme and help us to improve the working life for future trainees.

To access the survey please log onto:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F1inductionsurvey2024

If possible, please complete the survey in one sitting since you will not be able to access it later. It should only take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. The questionnaire is anonymous, and your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

A follow up survey will be sent to you in October 2024 to gauge how you are feeling as you gain further clinical exposure.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

Yours faithfully,

Clare van Hamel

Deputy Postgraduate Dean - Foundation

NHS England – working across the Southwest

REMINDER: 2024-25 TAB (Team Assessment of Behaviour) window dates for LFS

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 1

Opens: Friday 4^th October 2024

Closes: Monday 2^nd December 2024

 

Placement 2

Opens: Friday 7^th February 2025

Closes: Monday 31^st March 2025

 

Placement 3

Opens: Friday 18^th April 2025

Closes: Monday 19^th May 2025

REMINDER: Foundation Doctor Trust Reps

Comms have been sent by email to trusts regarding the collection of foundation doctor trust reps details. Thank you to those that have responded so far and a reminder that the closing date for this piece of work is

Reminders & Guidance

REMINDER: F1 Withdrawals

Please can we ask trusts to ensure that we are advised of any new F1’s who have withdrawn from training (if you’ve not already advised us already). Unfortunately, we aren’t always made aware by trainees themselves.

Please use the PDMDE Support Portal to inform us click here to be directed to the PGMDE Support Portal.

REMINDER: PSA Sittings 2024/25

Please note that PSA is an F1 exit requirement, not an entry requirement for Foundation. 

We do appreciate that PSA is undertaken by the majority of UK medical schools in the final year, and thus the majority of UK trained F1s will start with PSA. However, many F-IMGs will start F1 without PSA. We also acknowledge that many trusts will have their own independent prescribing assessments to ensure compliance with local prescribing policy, but this should be applied equitably to all F1s.

F1s who have still to pass the PSA can prescribe independently, with counter-signatory where possible. Where counter-signatory is not possible their prescriptions are equally valid to those of their colleagues. Like all F1 doctors, with or without PSA, they should seek advice when uncertain about prescribing.  There is no need for any out of hours adjustments to F1s working who have not yet passed the PSA”.

Please note the dates for all PSA sittings (all held at 1pm):

• Tuesday 10 September 2024
• Thursday 20 March 2025
• Thursday 1 May 2025

REMINDER: SCRIPT – supporting safer prescribing practices

The SCRIPT programme is a collection of innovative eLearning portfolios designed to encourage safe and effective prescribing and medicines management among healthcare professionals.

SCRIPT will enhance your knowledge and confidence in prescribing correctly, improving patient safety, therapeutics and medicines management. You will receive a certificate for each module that you complete, which can be used in your online learning portfolio. SCRIPT is easy to use. You can access the modules at a time which suits you and revisit them even after completion. SCRIPT modules are particularly useful in preparation for the PSA Exam.

You can learn more about the SCRIPT eLearning programme and how to sign up by visiting Medicine & Surgery | Safe Prescriber

For the London Foundation Doctors, SCRIPT is not mandatory but highly advisable. The London Foundation School recommend 6 modules are completed per year as a minimum.

REMINDER: How to request discretionary study leave 

Please see below the steps of how F2 Doctors can apply for Discretionary Study Leave.

1. Foundation Doctor (FD) seeks support from Educational Supervisor and trust (local) Foundation Training Programme Director (FTPD).
2. Local FTPD seeks approval from the area deputy Foundation School Director (FSD)
3. Deputy FSD replies to trust TPD, including study leave team.
4. Local TPD can then reply to FD with outcome. 
5. If approved, FD completes study leave form on the study leave portal. 

We are not able to reply to direct emails about Study Leave, but if you have any questions please do contact the school via the PGMDE Support Portal click here to be directed to the PGMDE Support Portal.

An email with guidance for FTPDs has also been sent.

REMINDER: Provisionally registered doctors (F1) must not undertake formal locum posts or activities.

Provisionally registered (PR) doctors can undertake occasional ad hoc additional/overtime shifts on their current FY placement or previous F1 placements that have formed part of their F1 rotation, where such work is undertaken only within the limits of their current competence and with the support of their educational supervisor. When undertaking such occasional ad hoc additional/overtime work PR doctors should be clear with other members of their team about their current experience and level of competence.

REMINDER: TiS Checks

Please can we remind Trust Medical Education colleagues to work with their Medical Staffing teams to regularly check Foundation Doctors’ posts on TiS, against internal records. Early recognition of any discrepancies can help us all to resolve issues quickly.

REMINDER: Contacting the London Foundation School

Please be reminded that contact with the Foundation School Team 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 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 HEE email addresses.

GUIDANCE: Foundation Doctors taking Parental Leave

Please can all foundation doctors who will be taking a period of Parental Leave, inform BOTH the Foundation school and the employing trust. Please use the following FAQ as guidance:

HEE Parental Leave FAQ's

Please also see the NHS employers Maternity guidance using the link below:

NHS Employers Maternity Guidance (rotational doctors and dentists)

GUIDANCE: Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training for London

All FDs can apply to work less than full time for a wide variety of reasons. This can improve work life balance while enabling doctors to maintain a fulfilling career.

Working LTFT will alter your training timeline. Both Foundation curriculum and Gold Guide advise that the Foundation Programme takes 2 years to complete when working full time. Timelines will be adjusted pro rata when individuals undertake training LTFT.

EXAMPLE.

F1 at 0.5 whole time equivalent (WTE): 12 DIV 0.5 = 24 months

F2 at 0.8 WTE: 12 DIV 0.8 = 15 months

In this example the whole Foundation programme would take 39 calendar months.

FDs will still rotate 4 monthly to ensure able to attend local induction and stay in sync with colleagues. Additional 4 month posts will be allocated by the Foundation School to ensure that LTFT doctors have an educationally balanced programme. We will also liaise with Trusts regarding the timing of ARCPs.

You can apply to work LTFT via the portal. If you have any queries about working LTFT please contact us via the portal.

Please click the link below for guidance regarding Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training.

LTFT Guidance         

GUIDANCE: Foundation doctors in GP and psychiatry placements contributing to acute services

Please see below link for guidance regarding Foundation doctors in community placements contributing to acute services Foundation doctors in GP and psychiatry placements contributing to acute services

GUIDANCE: 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

GUIDANCE: NHS employers’ guidance on induction for international medical graduates

Please find below link to guidance from NHS employers

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Welcoming-and-Valuing-International-Medical-Graduates-A-guide-to-induction-for-IMGs-WEB.pdf

UKFPO Bulletin

To read the latest UKFPO Bulletin access the link below:

UKFPO Bulletin        

Courses, Events, Research and Competitions

Fundamentals of Orthopaedics: Autumn Series 2024

This is a free weekly online consultant-led series of webinars delivered over Zoom running since 2021, aiming to make orthopaedic education accessible to all from medical school to CCT.

Registration link: tinyurl.com/funortho2024

For more updates, please follow us on: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fun.orthopaedics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fun.orthopaedics

X: https://x.com/funorthopaedics

RC Psych Annual virtual Foundation Trainees conference: 26^th September 2024

We are delighted to host the annual virtual Foundation Trainee Conference on Thursday 26 September 2024.

On Thursday 26 September we will hold our annual online Foundation Trainee Conference. This all day event will explore the many opportunities available for a career in psychiatry.

Delegates will have an opportunity to hear about a variety of career options including SAS careers, military careers, academic careers and many other topics.

The event will be hosted on Zoom on 26 September 2024 from 9am to 4pm and is free to attend for any Foundation year trainee.

Please visit our webpage for further information and to register: Foundation Trainee Conference - 26 September 2024 (rcpsych.ac.uk)

National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2025: 17^th January 2025

The UKFPO are pleased to announce the National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2025 on Friday 17 January 2025.

Current foundation doctors in recognised Foundation Programmes in the UK or Malta are warmly invited to hold the date for the next NFDPD. We will invite you to submit abstracts relating to work undertaken during Foundation training in due course. Successful abstracts will be presented as 10-minute oral or 3-minute poster (mini-oral) presentations. Judges to include representatives from the UKFP, GMC, MSC, BMA & more.

Please find attached the event flyer and visit the NFDPD webpage for further information and how to apply.

Please forward onto your foundation doctors for consideration.  

Kind regards.

UKFPO Team  

W. www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

GUM Taster Day 2024: Monday 14^th October 2024

Are you interested in a career in Genitourinary Medicine?

Please join us for a day of talks aimed at giving an overview of the speciality. (Please note this is not a training day).

We are hoping to run the day as a hybrid F2F/online event – we will let attendees know closer to the time.

• Learn about the specialty and what it involves
• Understand training requirements, the curriculum and how it is delivered, including dual accreditation with GiM
• Find out about research opportunities and out of programme experiences
• Explore a day in the life of a GUM SPR
• Receive an overview of common sexual health and HIV scenarios

Monday 14th October 2024

Virtually on Microsoft Teams (hybrid option TBC)

09:30-16:30 (approx)

Registration and admission are free:

Please apply for study leave

Register via the following link; please use an email you can access from outside of work.

For queries relating to the day please contact:

Christina Nigrelli, ST5 GUM, Croydon University Hospital: christina.nigrelli@nhs.net

NHS Learning Hub: August 2024 Update

Welcome to your August 2024 update from the Foundation elearning programme

The Foundation elearning programme covers key areas in your Foundation curriculum. It has been developed specifically for Foundation doctors by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in partnership with NHS England elearning for healthcare (NHSE elfh) and is approved by the UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO). 

Please also look out for our posts on Twitter (@NHSE_TEL)

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 doctors

A new video for all foundation, 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

NHS Induction Programme for International Medical Graduates - e-learning for health

The National Induction programme has been designed to ensure that all international medical graduates (IMGs) recruited to the NHS are welcomed, valued, and supported as they transition to UK clinical practice.

Please use the following link to access the programme:  https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/nhs-induction-programme-for-international-medical-graduates/

Foundation Careers & Coaching Events Team

Careers Conversation

All foundation trainees have the opportunity to have an individual careers conversation with one of our career coaches which can be arranged by completing the application form at the following link:

https://london.hee.nhs.uk/professional-support-and-development/careers-unit/apply-careers-advicecontact-us/careers-application-form

Self-Awareness | London (hee.nhs.uk)

Career Exploration | London (hee.nhs.uk)

Please find links to revised Career Planning webpages for Foundation doctors in training containing new content, resources and videos. 

Foundation Doctors | London (hee.nhs.uk)

FY: Choosing specialty - making a self aware and informed choice | London (hee.nhs.uk)

FY: Exploring medical specialties and other options | London (hee.nhs.uk)

FY - Arriving at a Decision | London (hee.nhs.uk)

FY: Speciality Applications and Interviews | London (hee.nhs.uk)

FY: Taking an F3 | London (hee.nhs.uk)

All current FY1/2 Trainees in London can also access up to three 1-2-1 careers appointments with experienced PSU careers consultants. Application form can be found here:

Careers Application 2024 | London (hee.nhs.uk)

Please note current London foundation doctors in training who are taking an F3 can still access 1-2-1 PSU careers appointments up to 3 months after they complete their FY training

School Foundation Reps

The UKFPO has asked us to pass on the following:

• They have created new UKFPO-run webinars to share important information and cover essential training topics https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/resources/ukfpo-webinars/.
• E-learning for healthcare is an excellent resource providing additional modules for professional development and reflects HLOs https://www.e-lfh.org.uk.
• The UKFPO is starting a new programme called “Enhance” which aims to improve generalist skills: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/enhancinggeneralistskills?nodeId=4992.
• The UKFPO is conducting work to analyse how variations in Foundation Year training results in differential attainment in specialty training applications and postgraduate exams. This work could be used to improve the provision of training opportunities during Foundation Years. Please do help by completing this survey: https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_bw3UuWbF6nyppHg
• Taster days are an important part of the UKFPO curriculum and are available to all Foundation Year doctors, including F1s. Trusts should allow Foundation doctors to take Taster days as study leave, and if issues arise these should be raised with the local Training Programme Director (TPD).

The Foundation School team are exploring improvements to the support available to trainees returning to work after a prolonged time out-of-training. A key part of this is learning about trainees’ experiences in returning to work. If anyone has had any experience with this and are happy to discuss it, then please email one of melissa.matthews11@nhs.net or anum.zahra@nhs.net.

The current support available to trainees returning to work can be found here: https://london.hee.nhs.uk/professional-development/supported-return-training

If you wish to contact us as the Foundation School representatives, please email us.

Please contact the Foundation School via the online Portal. This can be found here: https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/home

London Foundation School Representatives

Please see contact details for appointed School Reps below:

Sub-Region	Grade	First Name	Surname	Email Address
North East London	F2	Rimsha	Khan	e.raby1@nhs.net
North East London	F2	Francis	Elechi	francis.elechi@nhs.net
North Central London	F2	Zina	Al-Kaisy	john.gillespie3@nhs.net
North West London	F2	Melissa	Matthews	Melissamatthews@gmail.com
South East London	F2	John	Gillespie	rimsha.khan2@nhs.net
South West London	F2	Ellinor	Raby	Z.alkaisy1@nhs.net
IMG Pan London	F2	Nina	Seylanova	e.raby1@nhs.net

Useful links

https://london.hee.nhs.uk/professional-development/courses-and-conferences

FAQS

Horus - Changes and updates