An accessible plain text version of the Curriculum resource webpage is available.
Non-urgent advice: Introduction
The below resources highlight the national guidance and protocols available to support each of the curriculum’s foundation professional capabilities (FPCs). There are a wealth of freely available evidence-based resources available to help consolidate and develop knowledge and skills to deliver safe and effective patient care. The information below draws on a range of sources including elfh, British Medical Journal (BMJ) and Drs.net. Logins are required for all sites. The listed resources are mainly e-learning, webinars and content for reading.
The curriculum resource aims to assist foundation doctors, clinical supervisors, educational supervisors and other key members involved in delivering foundation training in improving their knowledge and understanding of the generic and clinical topics as set out in the Foundation Programme Curriculum 2021 (2026 Revision). It is important to note however, that this resource does not provide additional information underpinning every element of becoming a successful doctor. Many other resources are available through local postgraduate centre and foundation teams.
HLO 1: An accountable, capable and compassionate doctor
FPC1: Clinical assessment
Assess patient needs in a variety of clinical settings including acute, non-acute and community.
elfh
– Medication history-taking and prescribing on admission
– Psychiatric assessment and mental state examination
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Recognition and causes
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Differential diagnoses and management
– Holding an outpatient consultation
– Medically unexplained symptoms
– Self-harm assessment and management
– Dementia: Assessing, diagnosing and managing
– Senior advice: Who, when and why?
– Senior advice: When to stop for help
– Risk management and safe prescribing
– Safe practice: The doctor’s perspective
– Clinical incidents: Reporting and analysis
– Medical error: When things go wrong
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Diarrhoea in an inpatient
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– Cultural and religious diversity and bereavement
– Interpretation of investigations: Practical application
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Nutrition, health and disease
– The impact of malnutrition on health
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Family dynamics affecting discharge
– Management of long-term disease in the community
– NICE IV fluid: Principles and five Rs
– NICE IV fluid: More complex scenarios
– NICE IV fluid: When it goes wrong
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 3)
– Safer medicines use through concordance
– Understanding eating disorders: Sign, symptoms and causes
– Understanding eating disorders: Practical requirements
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
– Am I dying? How long have I got? – handling challenging questions
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– Recognising the last months and days of life and verifying death
– Symptom management for the dying adult: pain, and nausea and vomiting
– Development of management plans and ceilings of care
– Mobility
– The what and why of bullying (children and young people)
– Vulnerable groups: An overview (children and young people)
BMJ
– Hospital presentations: Chest pain
– Hospital presentations: Nausea and vomiting
– Arterial blood gases: a guide to interpretation
– Care of asylum seekers and refugees
– Step by step: A guide to diagnosing heart failure
– Diagnosis and initial management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in primary care
FPC2: Clinical prioritisation
Recognise and, where appropriate, initiate urgent treatment of deterioration in physical and mental health.
elfh
– Psychiatric assessment and mental state examination
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Recognition and causes
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Differential diagnoses and management
– Medically unexplained symptoms
– Self-harm assessment and management
– Dementia: Assessing, diagnosing and managing
– Senior advice: Who, when and why?
– Senior advice: When to stop for help
– Safe practice: The doctor’s perspective
– Clinical incidents: Reporting and analysis
– Medical error: When things go wrong
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Diarrhoea in an inpatient
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– Cultural and religious diversity and bereavement
– Interpretation of investigations: Practical application
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Nutrition, health and disease
– The impact of malnutrition on health
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– NICE IV fluid: Principles and five Rs
– NICE IV fluid: More complex scenarios
– NICE IV fluid: When it goes wrong
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 3)
– Safer medicines use through concordance
– Understanding eating disorders: Sign, symptoms and causes
– Understanding eating disorders: Practical requirements
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
– Am I dying? How long have I got? – handling challenging questions
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– Recognising the last months and days of life and verifying death
– Symptom management for the dying adult: pain, and nausea and vomiting
– Development of management plans and ceilings of care
– Mobility
– Vulnerable groups: An overview (children and young people)
Drs.net
BMJ
– Hospital presentations: Chest pain
– Hospital presentations: Nausea and vomiting
– Arterial blood gases: a guide to interpretation
– Anaphylaxis: a guide to management
– Drug errors in hospital practice
– Diagnosis and initial management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in primary care
FPC3: Holistic planning
Diagnose and formulate treatment plans (with appropriate supervision) that include ethical consideration of the physical, psychological and social needs of patients of all ages.
elfh
– Holding an outpatient consultation
– Medically unexplained symptoms
– Self-harm assessment and management
– Dementia: Assessing, diagnosing and managing
– Senior advice: Who, when and why?
– Senior advice: When to stop for help
– Risk management and safe prescribing
– Safe practice: The doctor’s perspective
– Clinical incidents: Reporting and analysis
– Medical error: When things go wrong
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Diarrhoea in an inpatient
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– Determinants of health and disease
– Organ donation and related communication skills
– Dealing with bloodborne virus infections
– Cultural and religious diversity and bereavement
– Effective referrals to other clinical teams
– How to get the best from laboratory and imaging services
– Discharge planning: Engaging therapists and social services
– Interpretation of investigations: Practical application
– Safeguarding vulnerable adults
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Nutrition, health and disease
– The impact of malnutrition on health
– Keeping the patient at the centre of care
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Family dynamics affecting discharge
– Management of long-term disease in the community
– NICE IV fluid: Principles and five Rs
– NICE IV fluid: More complex scenarios
– NICE IV fluid: When it goes wrong
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 3)
– Safer medicines use through concordance
– Understanding eating disorders: Sign, symptoms and causes
– Understanding eating disorders: Practical requirements
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
– Am I dying? How long have I got? – handling challenging questions
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– Recognising the last months and days of life and verifying death
– Symptom management for the dying adult: pain, and nausea and vomiting
– Development of management plans and ceilings of care
– Mobility
– Vulnerable groups: An overview (children and young people)
Drs.net
BMJ
– Hospital presentations: Nausea and vomiting
– Hospital presentations: Chest pain
– Step by step: A guide to diagnosing heart failure
– Complex cases in gastro-oesophageal disease
– Diagnosis and initial management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in primary care
FPC4: Communication and care
Provide clear compassionate explanations to patients and their carers or guardians that are appropriate to their age and level of understanding, agree a plan and deliver healthcare advice and treatment where appropriate; working within local and national guidance to promote safe care, with particular reference to safe prescribing.
elfh
– Medication history-taking and prescribing on admission
– Holding an outpatient consultation
– Medically unexplained symptoms
– Self-harm assessment and management
– Dementia: Assessing, diagnosing and managing
– Medical error: When things go wrong
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Diarrhoea in an inpatient
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– Determinants of health and disease
– DVLA
– Organ donation and related communication skills
– Cultural and religious diversity and bereavement
– The interface between primary and secondary care
– Effective referrals to other clinical teams
– How to get the best from laboratory and imaging services
– Discharge planning: Engaging therapists and social services
– Evidence-based medicine in clinical practice
– Common study designs in clinical research
– Explaining evidence, guidelines and protocols to patients
– Guidelines in clinical practice
– Safeguarding vulnerable adults
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Nutrition, health and disease
– The impact of malnutrition on health
– Quality and safety in the NHS
– Keeping the patient at the centre of care
– Team working and patient safety
– Outcomes and patient experience
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Family dynamics affecting discharge
– Management of long-term disease in the community
– NICE IV fluid: Principles and five Rs
– NICE IV fluid: More complex scenarios
– NICE IV fluid: When it goes wrong
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 3)
– Safer medicines use through concordance
– Understanding eating disorders: Sign, symptoms and causes
– Understanding eating disorders: Practical requirements
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
– Am I dying? How long have I got? – handling challenging questions
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– Recognising the last months and days of life and verifying death
– Symptom management for the dying adult: pain, and nausea and vomiting
– Development of management plans and ceilings of care
– Mobility
– Completion of the medical certificate of cause of death: Part 3
– The what and why of bullying (children and young people)
– Vulnerable groups: An overview (children and young people)
BMJ
– Hospital presentations: Nausea and vomiting
– Hospital presentations: Chest pain
– The importance of physical activity
– How does physical activity produce health benefits?
– The health benefits of physical activity: Cancer
– The health benefits of physical activity: Diabetes
– The health benefits of physical activity: Osteoarthritis and low back pain
– The health benefits of physical activity: Cardiovascular disease
– The health benefits of physical activity: Respiratory disease
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
FPC5: Continuity of care
Contribute to safe ongoing care, both in and out of hours.
elfh
– Psychiatric assessment and mental state examination
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Recognition and causes
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Differential diagnoses and management
– Self-harm assessment and management
– Senior advice: Who, when and why?
– Senior advice: When to stop for help
– Risk management and safe prescribing
– Clinical incidents: Reporting and analysis
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– Organ donation and related communication skills
– An underperforming colleague: What to do?
– The interface between primary and secondary care
– Effective referrals to other clinical teams
– How to get the best from laboratory and imaging services
– Discharge planning: Engaging therapists and social services
– Explaining evidence, guidelines and protocols to patients
– Guidelines in clinical practice
– Safeguarding vulnerable adults
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Introduction to patient safety
– Quality and safety in the NHS
– Keeping the patient at the centre of care
– Team working and patient safety
– Outcomes and patient experience
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Family dynamics affecting discharge
– Management of long-term disease in the community
– NICE IV fluid: Principles and five Rs
– NICE IV fluid: More complex scenarios
– NICE IV fluid: When it goes wrong
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 3)
– Safer medicines use through concordance
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– Recognising the last months and days of life and verifying death
– Symptom management for the dying adult: pain, and nausea and vomiting
– Development of management plans and ceilings of care
– The what and why of bullying (children and young people)
– Vulnerable groups: An overview (children and young people)
HLO 2: A valuable member of healthcare workforce
FPC6: Sharing the vision
Work confidently within the multiprofessional team and, where appropriate, guide the team to deliver a consistently high standard of patient care based on sound ethical principles.
elfh
– Senior advice: Who, when and why?
– Senior advice: When to stop for help
– Risk management and safe prescribing
– Hospital-acquired fever: What to do if MRSA positive
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Organ donation and related communication skills
– Dealing with bloodborne virus infections
– Cultural and religious diversity and bereavement
– Guidelines in clinical practice
– Safeguarding vulnerable adults
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
– Introduction to patient safety
– Quality and safety in the NHS
– Keeping the patient at the centre of care
– Raising concerns about patient safety
– Team working and patient safety
– Outcomes and patient experience
– Multidisciplinary discharge planning
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Family dynamics affecting discharge
BMJ
FPC7: Fitness to practice
Develop the skills necessary to manage own personal wellbeing.
elfh
FPC8: Upholding values
Act as a responsible employee, including speaking up when others do not act in accordance with the values of the healthcare system.
elfh
– Medical error: When things go wrong
– Hospital-acquired fever with MRSA: What to do next
– Infection control: Diarrhoea in an inpatient
– Infection control: Air and bloodborne pathogens
– Infection control: Modes of transmission
– How to avoid the General Medical Council disciplinary process
– Dealing with bloodborne virus infections
– An underperforming colleague: What to do?
FPC9: Quality improvement
Take an active part in processes to improve the quality and sustainability of care, with consideration to environmental sustainability; promotion of safe care through engagement with QI activity, risk management and safe prescribing.
elfh
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
FPC10: Teaching the teacher
Teach and present effectively.
elfh
– Making the best use of multi-source feedback: A trainee guide
– Getting the most from a direct observation of procedural skills
– Getting the most from a case-based discussion
– Getting the most from a mini-clinical evaluation exercise
– Getting the most out of supervised learning events: Feedback
– Getting the most out of supervised learning events: Reflection after feedback
– Teaching: Delivering a formal teaching session
– Teaching clinical practice: Bedside or opportunistic moment
HLO 3: A professional, responsible for their own practice and portfolio development
FPC11: Ethics and law
Demonstrate professional practice in line with the curriculum, GMC and other statutory requirements through development of a professional portfolio.
elfh
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Differential diagnoses and management
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– Health needs, demands and resource
– DVLA
– Organ donation and related communication skills
– How to avoid the General Medical Council disciplinary process
– Dealing with bloodborne virus infections
– GMC registration and post graduate observation
– Safeguarding vulnerable adults
– Patient with a reduced level of consciousness
– Discussing ‘do not attempt CPR’ decisions
– National immunisation policy and programmes
– Completion of the medical certificate of cause of death: Part 3
Drs.net
BMJ
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
– Sexual safety and professionalism in the NHS – an introduction for foundation doctors (trigger warning – further information on our Webinars page)
FPC12: Continuing professional development
Develop practice, including the acquisition of new knowledge and skills through experiential learning; acceptance of feedback and, if necessary, remediation; reading and, if appropriate, through research.
elfh
– How to avoid the General Medical Council disciplinary process
– Making the best use of multi-source feedback: A trainee guide
– Getting the most from a direct observation of procedural skills
– Getting the most from a case-based discussion
– Getting the most from a mini-clinical evaluation exercise
– Getting the most out of supervised learning events: Feedback
– Getting the most out of supervised learning events: Reflection after feedback
– GMC registration and post graduate observation
– Evidence-based medicine in clinical practice
– Common study designs in clinical research
– Explaining evidence, guidelines and protocols to patients
– Guidelines in clinical practice
– Teaching: Delivering a formal teaching session
– Teaching clinical practice: Bedside or opportunistic moment
Drs.net
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
– Making the most of your e-portfolio – Tips, tools and reflections
– Beyond the basics: Exploring foundation training pathways and opportunities
– Preparing for ARCP – Time to polish up your e-portfolio
– National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2026 – winning presentation and reflections
– National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2025 – winning presentation and reflections
– E-portfolios, reflection and good quality written feedback
FPC13: Understanding medicine
Understand the breadth of medical practice and plan a career.
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
Core foundation learning topics
Mental health including mental illness
elfh
General psychiatry
– Psychiatric assessment and mental state examination
Depression
– Self-harm assessment and management
Mania
Psychosis
Anxiety / Panic
Personality Disorder
Delirium
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Recognition and causes
– Delirium (acute confusional states): Differential diagnoses and management
Chronic Cognitive Impairment / Dementia
– Dementia: Assessing, diagnosing and managing
Eating Disorders
– Understanding eating disorders: Sign, symptoms and causes
– Understanding eating disorders: Practical requirements
– Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia (children and young people)
Addictions
Somatisation Disorders Including Functional Syndromes
Population health, including social justice and tackling health inequality
elfh
BMJ
– Motivational interviewing in brief consultations
– The importance of physical activity
– How does physical activity produce health benefits?
– The health benefits of physical activity: Cancer
– The health benefits of physical activity: Diabetes
– The health benefits of physical activity: Osteoarthritis and low back pain
– The health benefits of physical activity: Cardiovascular disease
– The health benefits of physical activity: Respiratory disease
– Physical activity for people with anxiety or depression
– The health benefits of physical activity: Promoting physical activity in primary care
– The health benefits of physical activity: mild cognitive impairment and dementia
– Collection: Physical activity and the treatment of long term conditions
Simulation to promote patient safety, human factors and systems working
Leadership
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
Quality improvement methodology, including environmental sustainability
elfh
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
Careers guidance
elfh
– TBC
Integration of acute illness into chronic disease management and complex multimorbidities
elfh
– Management of long-term disease in the community
– Impact of short-term and long-term physical problems on daily living
– The interface between primary and secondary care
– Assessment of ability to self-care after discharge
– Acute illness: Assessment and initial management
– Acute illness: Re-evaluation and monitoring
– Arterial blood gas sampling and interpretation
Drs.net
– Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy
– Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents
– Diagnosis and Initial Management of Type 2 Diabetes
– Diagnosis and Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
– Glaucoma
– Heart Failure for Primary Care
– Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
– Tremor
BMJ
Frailty
End of life care
elfh
Drs.net
Teaching skills
elfh
Patient safety, including teaching on high risk prescribing and systems working
elfh
– Risk management and safe prescribing
– Safe practice: The doctor’s perspective
– Communicating treatment risks to patients
– BNF usage and other prescribing information sources
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 1)
– Safe use of injectable medicines (part 2)
– Safe prescribing in renal impairment
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 1)
– Prudent use of antibiotics (part 2)
Drs.net
Suggested UKFPO webinar curriculum mapping
Safeguarding, with a focus on the vulnerable adult and child protection
elfh
Use of new technologies and the digital agenda