Neurosurgery as a first foundation year training post

Abstract

Neurosurgery has traditionally been regarded as a surgical speciality unsuitable for doctors in their first clinical year after graduation with limited prior experience of such patients. However, the advent of UK Modernising Medical Careers' Foundation Year training and the European Working Time Directive mean neurosurgery is now available as a clinical placement for newly qualified doctors. The authors describe the development of such a post, first implemented in August 2008, which both facilitated safe and effective care of neurosurgical patients and enabled the trainee to achieve many of the goals of UK Foundation training. Suggestions are made for the implementation of further similar posts.

Key words:

• UK Foundation Programme
• Modernising Medical Careers
• neurosurgery
• neurosurgical training

Declaration of interest: PJG is an FY2 doctor who undertook the post from August to November 2008 and authored the article. DP supervised PG for the post and is Clinical Director for the Department. EACP conceived, co-authored and edited the article. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.