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Gateways to the Professions

15. Postgraduate training

15.1 Responsibility for postgraduate training

The Foundation Programme lasts for two years, the first of which is before full registration and the second after full registration. Ultimate responsibility for the first year rests with the GMC. For the second year, and all following years, up to the final Certificate of Completion Training (CCT), ultimate regulatory responsibility rests with the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB).

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 communication and consultation 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, obstetrics & gynaecology and anaesthetics.’

The curriculum therefore sets out the competence standards for completion of Foundation Programme training. Thereafter, medical Royal Colleges have written curricula for all specialist 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.