General Trust Information - South West Peninsula Deanery

F1 

FOUNDATION PROGRAMME 

2013 

Foundation Programme F1 

Page 1 o f9 reviewed June 2012

PLYMOUTH HOSPITALS NHS TRUST 

Foundation Programme – F1 

INTRODUCTION 

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest providers of acute care in the 

country and is the major tertiary referral centre for the South West Peninsula. Derriford 

Hospital is designated as a major trauma centre, receiving patients from a wide area of 

Devon and Cornwall via the Air Ambulances. The managed population for the Hospital 

amounts to 430,000 and includes southeast Cornwall. This number expands considerably 

during the holiday seasons. The Trust has an annual income of £240 million; employs in 

excess of 6,000 staff and accommodates 1,200 beds in the main building. 

Derriford Hospital opened in 1981 and has gradually expanded to replace the four major 

acute hospitals in Plymouth in existence at that time. The site was chosen just outside the 

City limits to facilitate this expansion. The availability of adjacent land has permitted the 

development of a ’Medical City’ as local planners concentrate medical developments 

within this area. Specifically the acquisition of land has enabled the following 

developments to take place: 

A Science Park adjacent to the Hospital that includes the Diving Diseases Research 

Centre, Medical Innovations Centres and the new Undergraduate Medical School 

buildings. 

The relocation of the Royal Eye Infirmary. 

A new rehabilitation unit dedicated to stroke, neuro and orthopaedic rehabilitation. 

An extensive new build on the main Hospital comprising nine floors, including a major 

new critical care facility, rebuild of cardiac theatres and a new library floor together 

with research and teaching accommodation. 

Radiology academy – Department of Health initiative. 

New residential buildings for Hospital staff 

New adult mental health facilities are being provided on the Mount Gould site in the City 

Centre and there are three new local care centres in the City offering day care, minor 

injury services, rehabilitation, etc. 

The Trust is a Cancer Centre. Organisation and development of cancer services 

continues to grow in response to the increasing local requirements and national 

government initiatives. The Trust fully subscribes to a multidisciplinary approach and 

provides the infrastructure and services that would be expected from a major programme, 

including a purpose built Oncology Centre established on site in 1997. A major feature in 

this Centre is the Clinical Research Trials Unit. 

The Trust is developing rapidly as a centre for research in partnership with the Peninsula 

College of Medicine and Dentistry and Plymouth and Exeter Universities. The Trust 

received one of the first National Institute of Health Research grants in the South West 

and our staff are an active part of one of the first clinical trials units to be registered by the 

UK Clinical Research Networks. The Trust are also a successful partner in the recently 

designated Peninsula Collaboration in Applied Health Research and Care (PenCLARHC) 

On 3 November 1997 the new South West Cardiothoracic Centre was opened. The 

Centre has now carried out over 6,000 open heart procedures and provides a service for 

patients who previously had to travel substantial distances for treatment. It is worth noting 

that in the three years 1999 – 2001 the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons placed 



Plymouth first for survival rates following CABG and aortic valve surgery, out of all 38 

heart surgery units in the UK. 

The South West Neurosurgical Centre was the first tertiary service to be based at 

Plymouth and commenced work in 1975. It is rapidly expanding its range of neurosurgery, 

bone marrow transplant and renal transplant services, its staff and its accommodation. 

The Trust provides tertiary services (neurosurgery, maxillo facial surgery, plastic surgery, 

cardiac and thoracic surgery, renal transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, 

radiotherapy and oncology for rarer tumours), for a population of up to 2 million people 

living in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. 

Work started in 1990 towards the establishment of an Undergraduate Medical School in 

the Peninsula. Plymouth spearheaded this with the development of a Postgraduate 

Medical School that became operational in 1995 followed by the establishment of an 

Undergraduate Medical School – the Peninsula Medical School – which opened in 

October 2002 as a joint venture between the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter. The 

new School is enthusiastically supported across the whole Peninsula. In the 2002/2003 

academic year the intake was 130 students. The first cohort of students commenced their 

clinical studies at Truro, Exeter and Derriford in September 2004, with 40 based at 

Derriford. 

The Royal Naval Hospital (Stonehouse) closed in 1995 and its medical headquarters at 

the Derriford site (including nurses and other military healthcare workers) was 

incorporated into Derriford Hospital. The services are now fully integrated into the Hospital 

and provide medical facilities for the Military Services based in Plymouth in addition to full 

participation in the provision of local civilian hospital care. 

For more information, please visit the Trust’s website at 

http://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk 

ATTRACTIONS AND LEISURE 

To the northeast lies the rugged and virtually unpopulated Dartmoor National Park. On its 

western edge sits the unspoilt market town of Tavistock, at the centre of one of the most 

beautiful farming areas in the West Country. To the east of Plymouth, the South Hams 

boasts many charming villages, unspoilt beaches and fishing ports. The South Devon and 

Cornwall coastlines are within easy reach and there are regular cross Channel ferry 

services to Brittany and Northern Spain. 

Plymouth and its surrounds in south Devon and Cornwall comprise one of the major 

outdoor leisure areas in the UK. Activities include seaside sports such as surfing, 

windsurfing and sailing plus access to unlimited walking opportunities at whatever level 

(Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, coastal footpaths). 

Derriford Hospital is fortunate to have a purpose-built Leisure Centre comprising excellent 

gymnasium, squash and sports hall facilities. The Centre was built in 1990 and is well 

used by a wide range of staff, both for exercise and social functions. 

More recently, the Devonshire Sports & Racquet Club has opened opposite the Hospital 

and in addition to somewhat newer exercise facilities it provides a large swimming pool. 

There is an active Junior Doctors mess with events planned throughout the year including 

“Payday” nights out, Balls and other social events. The mess also has its own sailing boat 

available for use by Junior Doctors. The mess also has 7 IT workstations for dedicated 

use by Junior Doctors. 



EDUCATION/TRAINING 

Director of Medical Education 

Dr Hiu Lam, Consultant Anaesthetist. 

The Director of Medical Education carries overall responsibility for the implementation and 

development of Medical Education within the Trust. 

Deputy Director of Postgraduate Medical Education 

Dr Wai Tse, Consultant Renal Physician 

The Deputy Director of Postgraduate Medical Education carries overall responsibility for 

the implementation and development of Postgraduate Medical Education within the Trust. 

Foundation Programme Training Directors/ Clinical Tutors 

The clinical tutors have a general role in providing support, information, career guidance 

and help in implementing and developing the foundation programme in the Trust, amongst 

other duties. They can be contacted via the Postgraduate Medical Centre office or 

individual pagers 

Current Foundation Programme Training Directors are:- 

Dr I Higginson 

Dr Sarah Pascoe 

Mr Matthew Bowles 

Consultant Emergency Physician 

Consultant Oncologist 

Consultant Surgeon 

Postgraduate Medical Education Team 

Linda Atkinson-Lewis Foundation Programme Manager 

Mike Pengelly Postgraduate Medical Centre Manager 

Sandra Phillips Foundation Programme Administrator 

Sue Coleman Specialty Training Course Co-ordinator 

Helen Lavis Postgraduate Centre Receptionist/ Junior Study Leave 

Lorraine Veale GPVTS/TPD administrator 

This team should be your first point of contact regarding general foundation programme 

queries and questions. 

Educational Supervisors 

Each F1 doctor will be allocated a named educational supervisor for the whole year. The 

educational supervisor is responsible for facilitating the training and educational 

development of their junior doctors. They will meet with their trainees regularly to ensure 

that foundation trainees receive appropriate training and experience, deciding whether 

individual placements have been completed, assisting with personal development 

planning and ultimately signing off the doctor’s portfolio for GMC registration. Additionally, 

trainees will be working under clinical supervisors in each of the different specialties in 

their rotation. 

Learning objectives 

To provide the trainee with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to: 



Take a history and examine a patient 

Identify and synthesize problems 

Manage time and clinical priorities effectively 

Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues 

Use evidence, guidelines and audit to benefit patient care 

Prescribe safely 

Keep an accurate and relevant medical record 

Act in a professional manner at all times 

Cope with ethical and legal issues which occur during the management of patients 

with general medical conditions 

Become life-long learners and teachers 

Appraisal and Assessment 

This will take place at regular intervals throughout the appointment in accordance with 

Foundation Programme guidelines, GMC requirements and agreements with the South 

West Peninsula Postgraduate Deanery. There will be regular competency assessment 

based on the Foundation Programme Curriculum. 

General Education 

Mandatory bleep free weekly teaching session in the PGMC on Tuesdays – 13.30-16:00 

(including coffee break) 

Teaching based on the Foundation Programme Curriculum. 

Development of a skills training centre which will underpin ward based training. 

ROTATIONS 

The F1 programme includes twenty 3 X 4 month rotations. This enables every doctor to do 

at least 3 months general surgery and 3 months general medicine. The order of your 

rotation is not necessarily in the order shown. 

All posts are based at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust for the full year of the rotation. 

Rotations and posts have been pre-allocated to the foundation schools we are linked with, 

applications should be sent direct to the relevant foundation school for the rotation 

requested. 

A number of rotations are also allocated to the MOD, allocation to these posts is made 

directly by the MOD. 



1 Neurosurgery Gastroenterology 

2 Geriatric Medicine 

3 Paediatrics Geriatric Medicine 

4 Colorectal Surgery 

Upper Gastrointestinal and 

General Surgery 

Clinical Oncology & Upper Gastrointestinal and 

Palliative Medicine General Surgery 

Respiratory 

Medicine 

Upper Gastrointestinal and 


Intensive Care 

5 Colorectal Surgery Gastroenterology Emergency Medicine 

6 

7 

8 

Upper Gastrointestinal Respiratory 

and General Surgery Medicine 


Acute Medicine 

(Vascular) 

Upper Gastrointestinal 

Geriatric Medicine 

and General Surgery 

9 Neurosurgery Gastroenterology 

Respiratory 


Medicine 


11 

Acute Medicine 

(Vascular) 

Respiratory 


Medicine 

Paediatrics 

Urology 

Intensive Care 

Clinical Oncology & Palliative 

Medicine 

Emergency Medicine 

Paediatrics 

Obstetrics & Gynaecology 

13 Urology Acute Medicine Obstetrics & Gynaecology 


15 

Upper Gastrointestinal Respiratory 

and General Surgery Medicine 

16 Gastroenterology 

Endocrinology and 

Obstetrics & Gynaecology 

Diabetes Mellitus 

Emergency Medicine 

Upper 

Gastrointestinal and Breast Surgery 


18 Emergency Medicine Acute Medicine Colorectal Surgery 



GENERAL ISSUES 

Induction 

Medical staff induction day takes place on the Tuesday 24 th July 2012 at the Postgraduate 

Medical Centre for all F1 doctors. 

All F1 doctors are required to attend a mandatory period of shadowing on the 25th July, 

2012- 31 st July, 2012. 

All junior doctors will also be provided with Specialty specific induction programmes as 

they rotate through each specialty. 

Occupational Health 

The Trust has an occupational health centre on site which provides a full range of 

services, including counselling, to Junior Doctors and all other staff on site. In addition to 

the services offered by the occupational health centre the Trust offers junior doctors 

access to the one to one support service provided by the Deanery. You must be 

Occupational Health cleared prior to commencement of employment. 

Security 

All Junior doctors will be provided with a photographic ID card which must be worn at all 

times, in addition the Trust has a security advisor and security centre on the grounds, the 

centre houses Trust Security staff and provides a base for local community police officers. 

Accommodation 

Accommodation is available to rent in the new studio flats (built August 2007). 

Each unit has fitted wardrobes, desk, settee, dining table and chairs. Phone, broadband 

access and digital TV channels are also included. There is a separate kitchen, fully fitted; 

including a washer/dryer, microwave incorporating an oven, kettle, toaster and a fridge 

freezer. The self contained toilet and shower has a range of fitted cupboards, mirror lights 

and heated towel rail. The floors throughout are easy clean, wood laminate in the 

bedroom/lounge and vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom. There is a video entry phone 

system and each of the 3 blocks has a separate swipe card entry system, which also 

controls the car park barrier. Lockable cycle sheds are also provided. 

The external grounds and landscaped gardens are monitored by CCTV cameras linked to 

the hospital control room and the external lighting is linked to motion detectors. The fire 

alarm system is state of the art and incorporates the latest digital technology and is 

automatically linked to the Trust switchboard. There is a separate 8 person lift in block. 

A residences office is located on the ground floor of Block 3, this is open from 8.30 am till 

5.00 Monday to Friday. Out of hours there is an emergency call number. All public areas 

will be cleaned on a regular basis. 

Access to meals etc 

The Trust provides access to hot and cold meals in a restaurant and separate café area, 

the restaurant provides hot and cold food till 7pm. 



Library Facilities 

The Junior Doctors will have full access to the Trust’s Library (books, Journals and on-line 

journals/articles) and IT systems. The new Discovery Library opened at Derriford in 2007 

and houses brand new facilities in a contemporary space. 

GENERAL WORK REQUIREMENTS 

The appointee will have continuing responsibility for the proper function of the work. 

The appointee will undertake administrative duties associated with the running of his/her 

clinical work. 

The appointee will be expected to take a full part in professional activities including, 

clinical audit, clinical governance, training and quality assessment. 

It is a requirement that if the employee has concerns about the professional performance 

of a member of the medical staff, they have a duty to speak to the person concerned. If 

the matter is potentially serious, or satisfaction is not obtained with the direct approach, 

such concerns should be discussed with the Clinical Director, if satisfaction is again not 

obtained, concerns should be discussed with the Medical Director. 

Leave 

Leave arrangements will be agreed within the specialty so as to maintain adequate cover 

and you may be asked to assist other ‘take’ firms at particularly busy periods. Leave must 

be taken within each speciality and cannot be carried over into your next rotational slot. 

Ensure that you are familiar with the Trusts Sickness & Absence Policy and the 

requirements on reporting and returning to work - 

ACCESS TO CHILDREN 

The person appointed to this post may have substantial access to children under the 

provisions of Joint Circular No. HC (88) 9 HOC 8/88 WHC (88) 10. Applicants are, 

therefore, advised that in the event that your appointment is recommended you will be 

asked to complete a form disclosing any convictions, bind-over orders or cautions, and to 

give permission in writing for a police check to be carried out. Refusal to do so could 

prevent further consideration of the application. Attention is drawn to the provisions of the 

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 as amended by the 

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986, which allow 

convictions that are spent to be disclosed for this purpose by the police and to be taken 

into account in deciding whether to engage an applicant. 

REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS 

This post is not protected by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974. You must disclose 

all information about all convictions (if any) in a Court of Law, no matter when they 

occurred. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence. 



DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 

Candidates are informed that the information given by them in application for the post will 

be used only for the recruitment and selection process. For successful candidates this will 

then form part of their personal file, and for unsuccessful candidates the information will 

be destroyed. The information is stored both in hard copy form and minimally on a 

database. This information is held and administered in line with the Data Protection Act 

and the Trust’s confidentiality procedure.

General Trust Information - South West Peninsula Deanery

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