The Foundation Programme team organises separate teaching programmes for F1s and F2s with identical programmes running on both the Durham and Darlington sites. For F1s, teaching takes place on Wednesdays, on alternate sites, approximately every 2 weeks with F2 teaching on Thursdays. The programmes are arranged on alternative weeks to allow flexibility for trainees to attend and takes place for approx. 2 hours to allow time to return to the wards and departments before the end of the day. The teaching is bleep-free by arrangement within the department with colleagues.
There are certain courses that are mandatory during the F1 year. These are:
These courses constitute the Professional Development Programme for Foundation Programme Doctors. Resuscitation Training - By the end of the F2 year all trainees will have completed an Advanced Life Support and Immediate Life Support course. Those trainees in Paediatrics will also do Neo-natal Life Support (NLS) and Paediatric Life Support (PLS).
All Foundation Doctors in FY1 and FY2 have 2 days of clinical simulation training as part of their clinical training programme. These are scheduled over the period of the 2 year programme and allows trainees to develop Clinical Skills/Human Factors.
It is very easy to take advantage of the departmental teaching/journal clubs that happen across the Trust due to the vast amount that takes place. There are also a variety of other educational opportunities that are made available to FP doctors during their rotations.
FP trainees can take the opportunity to have a "taster week" in a speciality that they are considering or are interested in as a career choice that they have not been able to experience.
All F1's are allocated an experienced and trained Educational Supervisor who will remain the same for the whole 2 years. They will have regular meetings to develop and effective relationship. This will provide appraisal and mentoring functions including careers guidance.
Clinical supervision shall vary according to the placement but will incorporate a defined relationship with an individual. The relationship shall provide induction, objective setting, on the job teaching, competence assessment, formative feedback, summative feedback and agreed outcomes
'Every aspect of my emergency care was dealt with quickly, efficiently and professionally with full explanations and compassion from all staff involved'.
Patient, Emergency Department, Darlington Memorial Hospital