UKFPO National Clinical Director blog – October 2026

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We are now 2 months into the Foundation training year. I hope that those of you who started in August have settled into your role and have had the support that you needed. I hope that those of you who were already in Foundation Programme training continue to develop your skills as a doctor.

Reflecting on how things are going

It is very busy being a Foundation Programme doctor, and it can often feel like you having to do lots of different things at the same time, dealing with great uncertainty. At times like this, it is really important that you pause for a short while, and think about what you have been doing and what you have seen your senior colleagues do to help patients.

Reflecting on your practice is an important skill to develop, as it will be something that will help you for the rest of your career. It is clear that writing down your reflections is helpful in clarifying your thinking and learning. There is lots of guidance on reflective writing on the UKFPO website, so have a go at writing a reflective piece and ask a senior colleague to have a read!

Humans of the Foundation Programme (HoFP)

Reflection is the heart of HoFP, which was started two years ago by Dr Jie Fei Lau, UKFPO Fellow, based on a social media account (‘Humans of New York’) set up during the Covid pandemic. There are lots of fascinating stories to read on HoFP, with many thoughtful reflections on what it is like to be a Foundation doctor written by those who are immersed in those roles.

Please have a look at the HoFP articles on our website and in the HoFP e-books, and see whether there is something you could contribute.

National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2027

On Friday 22 January 2027, we will be hosting the annual National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day (NFDPD) in Coventry, where Foundation doctors present work that they have done during their Foundation training, either as an oral presentation or as a poster. It is one of my favourite days of the year, as I am always impressed by what they have done, and I am reassured that the medical profession will be in safe hands long after I will have retired – which is when I will need healthcare most!

The abstract submission window opens on Monday 5 October 2026, so if you’re a current Foundation doctor have a think about what you might send in. Please note that all presentations will be face to face in Coventry, so only send your work in if you will able to come to present.

Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) feedback form

Specialised Foundation Programmes (SFP) are important for Foundation doctors who wish to increase their experience in research, leadership or medical education. The UKFPO has been told that forms in the e-portfolios are mainly for feedback about how the Foundation doctor is doing in clinical practice.

We have therefore introduced a specific optional form for the supervisors of SFP doctors, so that feedback on a Foundation doctor’s performance during an SFP placement can be recorded on their portfolio. If you’re in an SFP placement, and your supervisor is unaware of the form, please point it out to them.

And finally – 2026 Career Destination Survey results

Today, the 2026 Career Destination Survey results were published on our Reports webpage.

This is a survey of F2 doctors at the end of their Foundation Programme training, asking them about what job they will be doing next. The headlines from the 2026 survey were:

  • On completion of the Foundation Programme, 75.4% of respondents reported that they had a job to go to, compared to 68.4% in 2025; 71.4% reported a confirmed training or locally employed post in the UK, which is significantly higher than in 2025 (60.8%)
  • 71.6% of respondents applied for core or specialty training (including GP), compared to 57.6% in 2025; of those who applied, 60.1% were successful in their applications and accepted a training post, whereas in 2025 54.4% accepted a training post
  • 12.5% of FP doctors planned to go abroad after FP (into training, service posts, or still seeking a post), which is similar to 2025 (12.8%)

Many thanks to the F2 doctors who completed the survey, and thanks to the UKFPO team for creating the survey and analysing the data. It is very helpful to see what is happening and help NHS medical education policy makers in their forward planning.

As ever, look after yourself and each other

Mike Masding
National Clinical Director
UKFPO