Launched in August 2005, the Foundation Programme is a two-year training programme for newly qualified doctors.

The first year of the Foundation Programme replaced the PRHO (Pre-Registration House Officer) year. Foundation year one (F1) doctors have to do at least three months of medicine and three months of surgery. However, the precise length of placements will vary. F1 doctors will be assessed throughout the year and have to show their competence.

At the end of the first year of the Foundation Programme, doctors who have graduated from UK medical schools will be eligible for full GMC (General Medical Council) registration.

The second year of the Foundation Programme replaces the first year of SHO (Senior House Officer) training. There will normally be three placements, each lasting four months. A substantial number of these (80% from August 2007) will be in general practice.

When doctors have completed the second year of the programme they will then be able to join the new specialist training schemes being introduced by the Royal Colleges and PMETB (Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board).

More details on the Foundation Programme, including the new curriculum, can be found on the Modernising Medical Careers website.

How MPS Can Help

The Medical Protection Society provides access to a range of benefits for doctors during their Foundation Programme:

• 24/7 medico-legal emergency advice line
• Exclusive discounts for members
• Medicolegal factsheets
• New Doctor magazine, published twice a year
• Free Casebook journal and much more

MPS medicolegal advisers have also produced a CD-ROM that gives foundation year doctors the medicolegal information needed for their first years of practice.

MPS has also arranged for discounts on online revision from PasTest for the MRCP (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians) and MRCS (Member of the Royal College of Surgeons) exams.