Dept of Postgraduate Medical Education
Education Centre
Royal Bolton Hospital
Minerva Road
Farnworth
Bolton
BL4 0JR
Telephone: (01204) 390427
Fax: (01204) 390119
ROYAL BOLTON HOSPITAL
FOUNDATION TRAINING PROGRAMME
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THE FOUNDATION TEAM
Dr Malcolm Brown,
Director of Medical Education
Dr Mayen Egbe,
Foundation Programme Director
Mr Neel Umapathy, Associate Foundation Programme Director
Professor Paul Baker, Academic Foundation Supervisor
Joanne Warburton, Medical Education Manager
Claire Burns, Clinical Skills Educator
Louise Kearney, Foundation Programme Administrator
Dr Mayen Egbe, Careers Lead
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ROYAL BOLTON HOSPITAL
Bolton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers patients a wide range of services based at the
Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth, close to the M61, as well as some which take place in
community settings.
Mental health services are provided at the Royal Bolton Hospital but are managed by Greater
Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Renal Dialysis is provided by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
Our vision is to develop the organisation and aim to match the best integrated care organisations
internationally for the quality and efficiency of our services by 2016.
Our renewed focus will give us three fundamental aims:


Best care for better health (for our patients and our community)
Responsible use of resources (for the taxpayer)
Valued, respected and proud (by our staff, patients and public)
Our strategic direction will be to address and design:
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
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Meeting the health needs of our population
Improving the safety and quality of care
Improving the patients experience
Making our services more efficient
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EDUCATION CENTRE
The Education Centre/Bolton Medical Institute is a fully integrated complex for the education,
training and development of all staff of Bolton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, General
Practitioners and members of the Bolton Medical Institute.
LIBRARY FACILITIES
Library Facilities are available within the Education Centre. Bolton has an excellent multiprofessional library with good IT facilities. The Library is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
DOCTORS MESS
The Doctors Mess has a widescreen TV with Sky, DVD player, WiFi, pool table, table football and
darts. If you join the Mess you get full use of the Mess facilities along with free drug rep lunches
once a month, weekly 5 a side football, hospital staff night outs. The Mess also puts on a
Christmas and Spring Ball.
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FOUNDATION TRAINING
Why choose Bolton for Foundation Training?
The Foundation Programme in Bolton accommodates 39 FY1 and 39 FY2 doctors. Of the 13
foundation tracks one is a dedicated academic track (track 6) and one a dedicated leadership
track (track 12). Through the Foundation Programme in Bolton, we aim to give you the
knowledge and skills to help you become the best doctor you can be.
Bolton is well placed to provide Foundation training, with its reputation for excellent hospital
experience and teaching. We ran pilot F2 programmes for 2 years and were amongst the first in
the country to do so. Prior to that, we ran the innovative General Professional Training
Programme. We are an Associate Teaching Hospital (linked to Salford Royal Hospital). Clinical
students in years 3-5 are placed in most specialties and so there are some opportunities for
undergraduate teaching.
The Trust is an extremely busy one, and has more emergencies than any other in the North West
Region. Your jobs will be rich in clinical experience. We have an excellent reputation for medical
training and junior doctor education, appraisal and support.
What do previous foundation doctors think of Bolton?
“Overall, I feel I'm getting a superior training/learning experience compared to those at quieter
hospitals.”
“I hope to return to Bolton for part of my specialty training, I'll miss the place when I leave”
“Friendly staff, good teaching, busy hospital with steep learning curve from on calls”.
“Rarely bored - it's a busy DGH with fabulous pathology mix, locals friendly, consultants
approachable, generally positive feel to the place - people say hello in the mornings with a
smile on their face”.
Teaching
Separate FY1 and FY2 teaching takes place in the Education Centre on Wednesday afternoons
between 1pm and 5pm. These sessions are protected teaching sessions and are bleep-free.
Educational Supervision/Mentors
An educational supervisor is allocated to each foundation doctor for the full two years of their
Foundation Programme to maintain an overview of development and progress of the doctor within
the training programme. Dr Egbe or Mr Umapathy will act as your Educational Supervisor for the
two year programme.
A Clinical Supervisor will be allocated for each four month post. Close supervision by the
consultant or general practice trainer is essential during a four month attachment.
You will also be offered the opportunity to be allocated a mentor who will be chosen depending
on your career aspirations.
The Academic Track
As an academic trainee at Bolton you would spend a session per week with your academic
educational supervisor throughout the two year track. You will be required to undertake research,
publication of papers and presentations at academic meetings. Whilst attaining all the usual
foundation competencies, you will be expected to acquire extra experience and expertise in
academic skills. This will include some responsibilities in organisation and delivery of teaching.
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Although the attachment in which most time is allocated to academic activity is in the FY2 year,
you will be required to make contact with your academic supervisor as soon as possible on arrival
(if not before) and to maintain contact throughout FY1. Preparatory work can begin as soon as
possible to make your stay more fruitful and by FY2 you should have ample opportunity to plan,
deliver and present your own project related to education and training. Submission to National
and International academic meetings for presentation would be expected.
The Leadership Track
Alongside the skills, competence and experience you will be gaining as a Foundation Doctor you
will have the opportunity to develop your skills and competence as a leader within healthcare.
You will link in with the Medical Director at Bolton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust developing an
insight and gaining experience of the role of the medical manager in a busy acute trust.
You will have a unique insight as a Foundation Doctor that will bring a fresh perspective to the
team. We will take an active role in your progress and will work with you to provide you with
development opportunities to run alongside your formal programme of education.
Information Events/Open Days
The Foundation Fair held in September is an opportunity for medical students to see what Bolton
has to offer. Potential applicants can also contact the Foundation Programme Administrator to
request a visit or further information.
Foundation Doctor Forums
All issues relating to junior doctors’ education and welfare are discussed at the Junior Doctors
Liaison Committee which meets every two months.
The North Western Foundation School encourages foundation doctors to contribute to the
regional Foundation Forum, where each cohort year, in each programme, is represented.
Additionally, there are national forums conducted by the UKFPO.
Study Leave
FY2 doctors are eligible for study leave and funding. FY1 doctors are not eligible to receive any
study leave funding, however, ‘taster days’ can be taken within the final rotation to a maximum of
5 days, from their FY2 study leave budget.
Time Out of Foundation Programme
Foundation doctors requesting TOFP should check the relevant guidance on the UKFPO website.
Applications for TOFP will be discussed with and approved by the Foundation Programme
Director before being forwarded to the Foundation School Director for final approval.
Flexible Training
We have previously accommodated trainees on a less than full time basis.
Inter Foundation School Transfer
Foundation doctors contemplating requesting an IFST should check the relevant “Guidance for
Applicants”
in
the
Key
Documents
section
of
the
UKFPO
website:
http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/home/keydocs. Applications must be approved
and signed by the local Foundation Training Programme Director and the Foundation School
Director.
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EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Terms and Conditions of Employment
The post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service of Hospital Medical and Dental Staff
as modified from time to time. All staff appointments are made subject to the receipt of
satisfactory references and all initial appointments to the National Health Service are made
subject to satisfactory medical and police clearance being produced. A medical examination may
be necessary on initial appointment and periodically thereafter.
Rotation Information
Full information about the rotation, location and content of placements is given in an
accompanying document.
Induction/Shadowing
All graduates are invited to undertake a shadowing fortnight in the last two weeks of July prior to
commencing the actual F1 rotation. All F1 doctors are required to undertake a mandatory
induction first two days in post (usually first Monday and Tuesday in August) prior to commencing
the F1 rotation.
Start Date
Usually the first Wednesday in August.
Salary
The salary scale is in accordance with the current national rate and placement within the scale
will be in accordance with previous reckonable service.
Annual Leave
Foundation doctors are entitled to 27 days annual leave in the year. The 27 days entitlement
does not include the 8 statutory holidays. If a foundation doctor works any part of a bank holiday
they are entitled to an additional days leave in lieu. In some specialties there is some restriction
on when a Foundation doctor can take their leave during the 4 months (e.g. not on their ‘hot
week’ for surgery). The individual directorates will inform the foundation doctor of any specific
restrictions on when they can take leave. Leave must be booked at least 6 weeks in advance.
Visa/Work permits/Leave to remain
The Trust will consider British /EEA nationals for appointment in the first instance. If the applicant
is a non-resident of the United Kingdom or European Economic Union, they are required to have
a valid work visa and leave to remain in the UK, which is renewed as required. The Trust is
unable to employ or continue to employ the applicant/post holder if they require but do not have a
valid work visa and/or leave to remain in the UK.
Accommodation
For an information booklet or for information about charges, please contact the accommodation
department on Tel No: 01204 390217
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OUT AND ABOUT IN BOLTON
Bolton is one of the UKs largest towns brimming with big ambitions,
friendly people and an abundance of entertainment and sports
facilities. It is within easy reach of both Manchester and Liverpool
city centres and the beautiful Lake District, Peak District, West
Pennines and Fylde Coast.
Bolton by day offers a wealth of attractions for you to visit.
Wander in the surprisingly beautiful countryside or visit the
many historical buildings and sites that surround the town or
visit the town centre with first class shopping opportunities.
Did you know that in Bolton you can:
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Watch a live Championship football match at the Reebok
Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers FC.
Visit the 14th Century Smithills Hall, one of the oldest manor
houses in the North West of England.
Discover the life and times of Samuel Crompton, inventor of
the spinning mule.
Watch bread being made and taste it fresh at the famous
Warburton’s Bakery.
Pull on your walking boots and explore the West Pennine Moors, only 2 miles from Bolton
Town Centre.
Hear ghost stories in the town’s oldest pub, The Old Man and Scythe, which dates from the
12th century.
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