Foundation Programme 2010 recruitment success
Published: 10/12/2009 08:15:00
Over 90% of applicants allocated to their first choice foundation school.
Professor Derek Gallen, National Director of the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) and Postgraduate Dean for Wales, is pleased to announce that all eligible applicants have been allocated to a place on the two-year Foundation Programme beginning in August 2010.
Each applicant will receive an email today asking them to login to their online account to find out the foundation school to which they have been allocated. Over 7,100 applicants have been allocated to the 25 foundation schools across the UK.
“I am delighted that over 91% of fully eligible applicants were allocated to their first choice foundation school,” said Professor Gallen. “The UKFPO and the foundation schools have put in a great amount of effort to make this process go well, and I am extremely satisfied with the outcome.
“We have worked closely with heads of UK medical schools, the BMA, medical students and employers to further develop the FP 2010 recruitment process. The input we’ve had from stakeholders has been invaluable and a lot of hard work has gone into making this process smoother and better than ever before,” said Professor Gallen.
“This year, the number of applicants were very closely matched to the number of vacancies. All fully eligible applicants were matched during an initial allocation. Remaining vacancies were put into a second round, where applicants eligible except for the right to work were then allocated.
“The good news for trusts and for patients is that 100% of the vacancies were filled this year. This is the first time that has ever happened.”
Foundation schools, each of which represents a geographical area of the country, will have information available on their websites about the programmes applicants can choose from. Applicants will have the opportunity to rank their programme preferences. The foundation schools will then match applicants to programmes locally. Applicants will be informed of their allocation to programmes by 16 February 2010.
“Even though this year’s recruitment went well, there is no room for complacency,” said Professor Gallen, “We will continue to improve the process in response to feedback from stakeholders.”
