The new foundation programme curriculum
BMJ 2016; 355 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.i4590 (Published 31 October 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;355:i4590
- Marina Soltan, foundation year 1 doctor1,
- Robert Powell, director of foundation training2
- 1Burton Hospital, Burton upon Trent, West Midlands Deanery, UK
- 2Health Education England—East Midlands, UK
The UK Foundation Programme Office has launched a new curriculum for foundation doctors, which started in August 2016.1 The foundation programme provides generic training in six four-month rotations in a variety of specialties over two years. During this time, foundation year 1 (F1) and year 2 (F2) doctors develop their clinical expertise by starting to take supervised responsibility for patient care, but they are also responsible for their education and development of their critical thinking and professional judgment. This article describes some of the key changes to the new curriculum and what you should know before you start the foundation programme.
What’s new about the foundation programme curriculum?
The 20 foundation professional capabilities that you need to demonstrate
As a foundation doctor, you will be expected to demonstrate 20 foundation professional capabilities that are “key clinical or professional aspects of practice” (box 1).1 These are mapped to the four key areas the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice—namely, professional behaviour and trust; communication, team working, and leadership; clinical care; safety and quality (see table 1⇓). As a junior doctor, you will need to collect evidence in your e-portfolio to show you have achieved these professional capabilities over the two year programme.
Box 1: Core procedures needed for the foundation programme
Venepuncture
Intravenous cannulation
Prepare and administer intravenous drugs and injections and fluids
Arterial puncture in an adult
Blood culture (peripheral)
Intravenous infusion, including …
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