KSS Foundation School no longer allows swaps to programmes or rotations in either your first or second year.
Once you have been allocated a foundation programme, you are not able to locally swap the whole programme or any rotation within it.
We understand that this rule is disappointing for some Foundation Resident Doctors (FRDs), particularly those who want a placement explicitly geared towards their preferred career choice. However, for selection into specialty training, it is important that you show evidence of Foundation capabilities as well as suitability for and commitment to that specialty. Selection panels are aware that many FRDs will not have had their most preferred rotations. What they will be looking for is evidence of your commitment to that specialty e.g. through medical school electives, Foundation Taster weeks, QIPs, attending careers events etc.
The majority of F1s will start with a compliant programme i.e. one where the F2 programme is an appropriate balance with their F1 programme. Where this is not possible, the Foundation School will work with the doctor after allocation, to provide a suitable F2 programme. The School recognises that this allocation of a 2 year programme restricts the choice of posts that FRDs can have and while our obligation is only to provide each doctor with an appropriately balanced*, generic programme in which they can achieve the outcomes of the curriculum, we are keen to support FRDs who have changes to personal circumstances since allocation.
However, while wanting to get the best outcomes for our doctors, the School does not want to raise false expectations that it can satisfy all requests, as any switches are subject to vacancies and maintaining an appropriately balanced rotation.
*As an example, a balanced two-year programme would include at least one acute medical specialty, one surgical specialty or craft specialty (i.e. O&G, ENT), and ideally one community placement but undertaking a community placement is not a requisite to achieving FPCC.
Additionally, guidance states that your F2 placements should not repeat specialities already experienced in F1. Nevertheless, specialties of a general nature (i.e. General Medicine/Surgery with a specific sub specialty e.g. General Surgery – Colorectal / General Medicine – Respiratory/ Geriatric Medicine – Orthogeriatrics can be repeated in F2.