Gateways guidance: 15.1 Responsibility for postgraduate training

The Foundation Programme lasts for two years, the first of which is before full registration with a licence to practise and the second after full registration. From April 2010, the General Medical Council has ultimate regulatory responsibility for all postgraduate training. That includes the Foundation Programme and the subsequent specialty including GP training up to the final Certification of Completion of Training (CCT).

The Foundation Programme curriculum reflects a developmental approach to postgraduate medical education. Under the curriculum, foundation doctors have to demonstrate that they are competent in a number of areas, including professionalism, communication and examination skills, patient safety and team work as well as the more traditional elements of medical training.

The framework for this structured two-year training programme gives foundation doctors exposure to a range of career placements across a broad spectrum of specialties, including accident & emergency, general surgery and geriatric medicine. 

The curriculum therefore sets out the competence standards for completion of Foundation Programme training. Thereafter, medical Royal Colleges have written curricula for all specialty including GP training programmes. Some of these will have specific implications for disabled junior doctors which might require effective and accurate careers advice.

Realistic and honest careers advice should be made available to all trainees. Advice should be free from negative assumptions about the employability of disabled doctors.