[1] Being a foundation doctor is compulsory for all newly qualified medical practitioners in the UK starting from 2005 onwards.
[2] Foundation doctors have the opportunity to gain experience in a series of posts in a variety of specialties and healthcare settings.
Learning objectives for each stage are specific and focused on demonstration of clinical competences.
Emphasis was on the assessment and management of acutely ill patients, but changes in the curriculum have stressed that chronic conditions are also important.
The first year of the posts in FY2 is in different specialties, such as general practice, emergency medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics or pathology.