Developing a Foundation Programme Taster Course: The South Wales Oncology Experience Dr Jennifer Kahan Dr Samantha Cox

Content The foundation programme & taster courses The structure of our taster programme Participant views & feedback Future plans

Collins Report Simpler access to tasters To give insight into careers of the specialty Facilitate career decision-making Promote careers reflection The UK Foundation Programme Office Guidance Document for Foundation Schools, March 2011

Organisation of Oncology Taster Established in 2012 Three x1 week attachments, 9 trainees/year Open to all FY2 and FY1 in last 4 months Advertised nationally via deanery websites and careers fair Co-ordinated by Velindre Education Department

Organisation of Programme Co-ordinating SpR Recruit enthusiastic consultants Overall named consultant Named point of contact for each session New & follow-up Inpatient/outpatient Radiotherapy planning Pharmacy Nuclear medicine Ward

Draft Timetable MorningAfternoon ConsultantClinic & LocationConsultantClinic & Location SpR 8.15am –sign in On Call SpR Ward based session with on call SpR– Meet SpR at AOS meeting, Monday Medical oncology consultant 8.30am – MDT & Lymphoma clinic 12.30pm - AOS (Acute Oncology Service) Tuesday Clinical Oncology Consultant Neville Hall Hospital clinic and Lung Clinical Oncology Consultant NHH clinic Wednesday Medical oncology consultant 8am University Hospital of Wales Colorectal MDT Clinical oncologist pm – Physic Planning Programme director 2.00 – 5.00pm – SpR Teaching Clinical Radiotherapy – Lung Thursday Medical oncology consultant 9.00am - Colorectal and Upper GI clinic Senior pharmasist 2.00 – 3.00pm – Pharmacy Programme director 3.00 – 4.00pm - Career in Oncology Radiologists 4.00 – 5.00pm – CT Sim Friday Clinical Oncology Consultant 9.00am - Radiotherapy planning AOS 1.30 – 2.30pm - AOS MDT Nuclear medicine dept 2.30 – 3.30pm - Nuclear Medicine Senior radiothrapist 3.30 – 4.30pm - Radiotherapy Main Reception 4.30pm –Sign out

Application Form Eligible? – FP1 in last rotation and FP2s Subject to educational supervisor signing off study leave Signed study leave form 6wks prior to start Own transport Generic letter to candidate

‘Thinking Oncology? Think Wales’ Free to attend 1 day session or ‘open day’ Alternate years 2012, 2014 Seminars – What its like to be consultant/registrar in Wales – Visit to radiotherapy department – Talks by members of MDT Drew on taster week but with an aim to improve recruitment in Wales

Potential Difficulties of Developing a Taster Course Advertising – Via postgraduate department Availability of consultants Ability for juniors to get study leave Coordinated study leave and consultant rota F1s and are restricted but show interest Clash with other commitments in foundation calendar

Feedback Overall positive 100% report useful Improved the likelihood of attendees to apply for speciality training

2013 Feedback 8 FP2s 100% found it easy to apply 80% rated organisation of week ‘good’ or ‘very good’ 100% rated week as a ‘very useful’ insight into specialty

Trainee Comments Fantastically organised! Would recommend to anyone! Brilliant! Thanks for being so welcoming! Definitely planning on applying to Specialty Training now!

How the Programme has Developed…. Reports summarising trainee comments – More exposure to different cancer sites – Time on ward with drs – Want to have a go at planning RT themselves

67% fill rates of Clin Onc posts % fill rates Taster is one of the innovations locally to improve recruitment – TOTW – Website – Careers fairs South Wales Strategy for Recruitment and Training

The Future… Bank of consultants Established timetable Move with developments of the hospital – Incorporation of AOS Develop programme in Singleton Hospital, Swansea (South West Wales Cancer Centre)

Summary Sustainable and useful project – Praised by the Wales’ Deanery as a ‘Rewarding Innovative Process’ Model could easily be applied to other specialities Becomes easier with subsequent years

References 1. Collins, J. Foundation for Excellence: An Evaluation of the Foundation Programme. Medical Education England, The UK Foundation Programme Office Guidance Document for Foundation Schools, March 2011.

Acknowledgements Angela Voyle-Smith Dr Mick Button Consultants of Velindre and allied health professionals

Thank You Any Questions?

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