The Placement Quality Review of the Core Surgery Training Programme commenced in August 2019/20, led by Dr Sally Anne Phillips (Associate Dean for Placement Quality) and Dr Keira Walsh (ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellow for Placement Quality).

The first phase of work on the Core Surgery Training Programme was completed in November 2020 with publication of the Core Surgical Training Placement Quality Report below.

The second phase of the PQ review, a Regional Prospectus for all Core Surgical training units, is in development and will be published on the website in early 2021.

The Placement Quality work with the Foundation Programme involved review of available information locally and nationally, a new dedicated trainee survey and multiple focus groups with trainees.

On 1st April 2019, Queens University Belfast and NIMDTA jointly hosted the “Redefining F1” Foundation Summit, with the aim being to consider specifically the experiences of F1 doctors in NI and to identify how the F1 experience could be redefined through a collaborative approach involving all of the key stakeholders. Representatives of all interested parties in the NI Foundation Programme (DoH, HSCB, PHA, HSC Trusts, NIMDTA, QUB, GMC, BMA, and Trainee representatives) attended and participated actively in the Summit. The outcomes that F1s are expected to achieve during their first year of practice and the feedback from the PQ Review were presented.

Following the Summit, the Placement Quality Review team, led by Dr Sally Anne Phillips (Associate Dean for Placement Quality), produced a Foundation Placement Quality Report based on the background information presented and on the proposals generated during the Summit. The Report outlined 12 Key Recommendations for HSC Trusts to improve the F1 experience.

During summer 2019, the Placement Quality Review team met with representatives of each Trust to share the Placement Quality Review findings for each site within their Trust and the UKFPO ranking analysis for the GMC NTS 2018. The team learnt of the local actions being taken to implement “quick fixes” in advance of the August 2019 changeover, and the longer term strategies each Trust was developing.

On 9th October 2019, Queens University Belfast and NIMDTA jointly hosted a “Redefining F1 Follow-up” event. Each Trust was asked to give a short presentation outlining the actions taken to address each of the Key Recommendations and to describe the further actions planned. All key stakeholders were invited to attend and contribute, to learn and share good practice from each Trust, and to discuss the remaining common challenges which might require advice/input from the DoH.

A ‘Finding Solutions Together’ Workshop at the “Redefining F1Follow-up” event identified the good practice presented that could be easily transferred across Trusts, reviewed the obstacles encountered by all Trusts and collectively identified possible local solutions. The remaining common challenges which might require advice/input from the DoH were then considered.

The Progress Update below summarises areas of good practice, identified solutions and local obstacles to implementing key recommendations and highlights areas for further development.

A re-survey of F1 placements was carried out in January 2020, to review the progress made in addressing the key recommendations from the initial F1 Placement Quality Report (March 2019). The F1 Resurvey Reports below, summarise by Trust the improvements made to the F1 training experience since the initial PQ review and highlight areas where further development is needed

A further re-survey of F1 placements was carried out in December 2021/January 2022, to review the progress made in addressing the key recommendations from the initial F1 Placement Quality Report (March 2019) and the progress review conducted in January 2020.

The F1 Resurvey Reports below, summarise by Trust the improvements made to the F1 training experience since the initial PQ review and highlight areas where further development is needed.

We began our new Placement Quality (PQ) Initiative in August 2018 – being led by Dr Sally Anne Phillips as Associate Dean for Placement Quality in conjunction with PQ ADEPT Fellow. The first phase of work on the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Programme was completed in March 2019 with publication of an interim Report and an Update in November 2019. There are 4 written end-products:

1. A promotional information leaflet about Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in NI
2. A Prospectus for all the O&G training units in NI
3. An Interim Summary Report on the O&G Placement Quality Review (March 2019)
4. Final Report on the Placement Quality Review of O&G Training (November 2019) – Update and Trainee feedback by Trust and Hospital site

A resurvey of O&G training placements was carried out in January 2020 to review the progress made in addressing the key recommendations from the initial O&G Placement Quality Reports (March/November 2019). The O&G 2020 Resurvey Reports are below, summarised by Trust; these highlight improvements made to the O&G training experience and areas where further development is needed.

The Placement Quality Review of the Psychiatry Training Programme commenced in August 2019/20, led by Dr Sally Anne Phillips (Associate Dean for Placement Quality) and Dr Keira Walsh (ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellow for Placement Quality).

The first phase of work on the Psychiatry Programme has been completed and there are 4 written end-products:

1. A promotional information leaflet about Training in Psychiatry in NI
2. A Prospectus for all the Psychiatry training units in NI
3. An Interim Summary Report on the Psychiatry Placement QualityNI
4. Higher Trainee Handbook
5. Final Summary Report on the Psychiatry Placement Quality NI

The follow up survey was conducted in March 2021, a summary of results can be found in the Final Summary Report above.