F1 Foundation Programmes
North West Thames Foundation School
Information for Potential Applicants
The North West Thames Foundation School (NWTFS) has been set up by Imperial College London and the London Deanery, incorporating links with Eastern Deanery. The Foundation School co-ordinates the allocations process, supports the delivery of foundation training and the development of foundation doctors.
Places in this Foundation School have been consistently oversubscribed, and the situation was the same for 2010. The application entry score required to get into NWTFS was 84.
The information below is designed to assist in your choice of programmes, and to provide general information that may be of assistance at this stage.
Tier 4 Sponsorship 2009/2010 Information and Guidance
The UK Foundation Programme Office provides Tier 4 visa sponsorship for all non-EEA citizens graduating from UK medical schools who have secured a place on a Foundation Programme. Further information about can be found on the Tier 4 Sponsorship 2009/2010 Information and Guidance webpage.
Information about Trusts and Programmes
NWTFS has links with the following Trusts/Hospitals 
London Deanery Trusts
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, Queen Charlotte's Hospital, St Mary's Hospital
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust Ealing Hospital NHS Trust Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust - Central Middlesex Hospital, Northwick Park Hospital
West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
Eastern Deanery Trusts
Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust - Colchester General Hospital
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust - Watford General Hospital
Our programmes can be viewed on the Foundation Programme Application Service (FPAS) website. Additionally, a Word version can be downloaded here NWTFS Two-Year Programmes 2010 
The specialties listed on FPAS comply with the recognised list of specialties. Those shown on our job list on our website show the specialties as given to us by the Trusts, and will give the most accurate information.
Applicants should note that there may be changes to programmes, sometimes at a relatively late stage in the process.
Links to Trust website and information received about programmes can be found on the FPAS website. Please note that we do not arrange visits to Trusts, nor do we hold any events such as foundation programme fairs.
Information about bandings has not been included, as changes may occur. Where reference is made to banding, in any Trust documentation, this refers to the current situation, and applicants should not assume that the banding will remain the same for foundation doctors commencing programmes in August 2010, your banding will be the applicable banding at the time the post is offered and accepted (both in writing ) by you.
From August 2008, it was no longer a requirement for Trusts to provide free accommodation. It will be up to Trusts to decide their policies relating to accommodation. Applicants should also note that not all Trusts provide married accommodation. Successful applicants to NWTFS should contact Trusts prior to applying for programmes should they require accommodation.
Feedback from F1 Doctors
The following feedback was received from doctors who completed their F1 Year in 2008/9
Central Middlesex - F1 Feedback 09 Chelsea & Westminster - F1 Feedback 09 Ealing - F1 Feedback 09 Hillingdon - F1 Feedback 09 Northwick Park - F1 Feedback 09 St Mary's - F1 Feedback 09 West Middlesex - F1 Feedback 09
The following feedback was received from doctors who completed their F1 Year in 2007/8
Charing Cross/Hammersmith - F1 Feedback 08 Chelsea and Westminster - F1 Feedback 08 Ealing - F1 Feedback 08 Hillingdon - F1 Feedback 08 Northwick Park - F1 Feedback 08 St Mary's - F1 Feedback 08 Watford - F1 Feedback 08 West Middlessex - F1 Feedback 08
Please note that this information is for general guidance only and does not cover every programme within a particular Trust, we have only published information where this has been received. The specialities, and programme reference numbers may also have changed.
Allocation to Two-year Foundation Programmes
Once applicants have been accepted into the Foundation School, allocation to two year programmes will be undertaken via FPAS. Applicants will be asked to select programmes in order of preference from Monday 14 December 2009 to Monday 25 January 2010, 5pm programmes will be allocated according to the applicant’s original FPAS score.
In response to requests from applicants about their score in relation to other applicants, we are issuing decile bandings. These bandings are approximate given the number of applicants with a particular score, we have tried to be as accurate as possible.
Range of Total Scores Chart 2010 - A bar chart showing the range of total scores gained by applicants mached to the North West Thames Foundation School.
The algorithm for allocating programmes will operate differently to how it worked for allocation to Foundation School. The system will place applicants in their order of score, with the top ranking applicant being allocated their first choice of programme. The system will then move down the list of applicants, giving each their first available programme. If more than one applicant with the same score has listed the same programme, the system will allocate randomly. The system will not initially go down the list of applicants allocating as many as possible their first choice as it did for Foundation Schools.
Applicants may rank as many or as few programmes as they wish but, obviously, the more programmes they rank, the higher their chances of being matched to one of their chosen programmes.
Should we have unplaced applicants and unfilled programmes following the allocations process, remaining applicants will be allocated randomly to programmes and will be expected to take these up, even if these are in Trusts that were not selected by the applicant. As we have programmes within Eastern Deanery Trusts, an application to this School should not be viewed as an application for solely London programmes. Applicants wishing to avoid random allocation are advised to select a wide range of programmes.
Applicants who have been allocated to NWTFS on the basis of ‘special circumstances’ will be entered into the allocations process in exactly the same way as others, in order that standard applicants are not disadvantaged. In the event of a special circumstances trainee not being allocated a suitable Trust, we will allocate a programme to them that least affects other applicants. This may be a programme or a Trust that was not listed on the applicant’s preferences.
Once allocated, applicants may not exchange programmes with one another, nor may an applicant change to another programme in the event of a vacancy occurring.
Whilst F1 and F2 are educationally linked to form a two year Foundation Programme, the employment contracts for each year are separate, and trainees may not claim relocation expenses.
Linked Applications
Please note that NWTFS will not be taking account of ‘linked applications' when allocating to programmes. Applicants should be aware that they could be allocated to Trusts a significant distance apart.
Shadowing
Successful applicants wishing to shadow the F1 in their allocated programme should contact the Medical Education Manager of the relevant hospital.
F2 Abroad
Applicants wishing to undertake F2 abroad will need to seek permission from the School and have their intended programme approved. The timeline for completing this process will be advised during the F1 Year. Guidance information for undertaking F2 abroad can be found on the London Deanery website, please note that this is subject to change.
Withdrawal from the Foundation School or a Programme
In applying via FPAS, applicants agree to abide by the rules of the system, including complying with Foundation School and Trust requirements, and taking up the programme to which they are allocated. Unilateral withdrawal from a programme will be viewed very seriously. Applicants are reminded of the GMC requirements in relation to probity and professional conduct. Applicants who feel they have valid reasons for withdrawing from the School or a programme should contact the Foundation School at the earliest opportunity. The School recognises that trainees’ circumstances do change, and endeavours to offer assistance and support in such case.
NWTFS requirements and policies
The Foundation School requires successful applicants to comply with certain requirements in order that we can manage the allocations process effectively.
Foundation Doctor Registration
Once applicants have been accepted into the School and prior to being allocated programmes they will be required to register by completing a Registration Form. Foundation doctors will be required to sign to agree that they will comply with the pre-employment checks and requirements of employing Trusts, that they agree to their medical school releasing information, if requested, to the Foundation School. It is obviously important that we know the outcome of Final Examinations for all our potential foundation doctors, and applicants are, therefore, required to give the date on which their results will be released, and to notify the School within three days of their result. If the form is not returned by the specified date, it will be assumed that the applicant wishes to withdraw from the Foundation School and programmes will not be allocated.
Registration Form 2010 - The School require that all foundation doctors submit a Registration Form.
The deadline for receipt of the Registration Form is Monday 25 January 2010, the form must be signed and returned by post.
Transfer of Information (ToI)
The Foundation School operates a ToI policy, whereby successful applicants complete a form giving details of their medical school and employment details to date, outlining any extensions to their course, and any areas of concern that they have about working as an F1 foundation doctor. This process is mandatory for all foundation doctors. Forms are sent in confidence to Clinical Tutors and Training Programme Directors in Trusts, not to educational supervisors. Forms are destroyed on completion of Foundation Training. This initiative was designed to support new doctors, and it has been found to be successful in this aim, being beneficial to graduates, Trusts and the Foundation School.
Transfer of Information Form 2010 ToI Information Sheet 2010
The deadline for receipt of the ToI Form is Monday 25 January 2010, the form must be signed and returned by post.
Registration/Pre-employment Checks
All F1s must be registered with the General Medical Council prior to taking up employment. It is also a requirement of acceptance into the North West Thames Foundation School that you comply in a timely manner with Trust requirements, including Criminal Records Bureau checks, Occupational Health clearance and any other processes deemed appropriate by the Trust, and that you are eligible to work as an F1 on the 1st August 2010. Failure to do so may result in your post being withdrawn.
We hope that you find this information helpful. Should you have any enquiries, please contact umo-nwtfs@imperial.ac.uk. Please note that, due to the large number of enquiries we receive, it is not possible for us to accept telephone queries.
