Foundation Programme - a year on

The Foundation Programme (Malta) was launched in July 2009 and a year on it is evident that the efforts invested in this medical training programme are paying off.

Training programmes for doctors have always been in place but progress in the medical world meant that this training no longer met the demands of the modern health service and that a reform was long overdue. High level negotiations between the Maltese and UK governments last year led to the setting up of a Foundation School in Malta, which enjoys equivalence to any UK Foundation School. This type of specialist accreditation does not happen easily and is the result of the dedication and commitment shown by Maltese health officials and the local school directors.

Added to all this is the quality infrastructure and high standards of medical training and students. The Foundation Programme is described as the "gold standard" training programme for junior doctors in Europe and its introduction in Malta enables trainees who complete the Foundation Programme Malta to successfully compete on the same level as those who are successful in the UK.

One year on and the necessary structures are not only in place but have started to give the desired results. For the first time in a number of years, we can safely say that newly-qualified medical graduates are showing their trust in this programme and are electing to join the Foundation School. The benefits of this to the Maltese health system are enormous.

The Foundation School binds itself to give newly-graduated doctors, known as trainees, a structured two-year training programme exposing them to a range of career placements across a broad spectrum of specialities. They are also taught a range of skills including communication, research time management and use of evidence and data. Trainees undergo several competency assessments before they complete the programme. In return, the Maltese health services are guaranteed that these new graduates do not leave the island to join Foundation Schools in the UK and that the service requirements are met while these doctors receive their post-graduate training.

This is all a far cry from traditional training programmes where junior doctors have had variable training experiences with no clear structure. Explicit requirements now mean improved standards of training for trainees that will prepare these doctors to enter speciality training and continue their medical career either here in Malta or overseas.

It has been an exciting and, at times, stressful time to put the programme in place. Achieving so much in such little time has required the support and trust of a number of stakeholders. The programme's success depends on a number of factors but, without any doubt, huge credit goes to the consultants and specialists at Mater Dei and other hospitals who act as educational and clinical supervisors to the trainees. This past year has seen them adopt totally new practices and, at times, struggle with complex IT expectations! When one considers their huge clinical workload, one cannot but appreciate their dedication and commitment to ensure that this programme is a success.

Ultimately, the success of this programme means that not only are we providing a much improved training framework for doctors but we are also working towards a better quality of healthcare for Maltese patients.

As the School looks forward to recruiting its new trainees in July 2010, it is a huge satisfaction to note that not only have we garnered local trust and interest but we are also attracting interest from overseas medical graduates who are opting to spend these compulsory two years in our Foundation School rather than a UK Foundation School. Attracting this overseas interest has been effortless but it is certainly most encouraging to meet with these newly-qualified EU graduates who, after conducting their own research on what Malta and its health services have to offer, choose to join our programme. The benefits of this to our healthcare system are enormous and will see a direct injection of numbers to our precious medical human resources. It will also further consolidate and enhance the top qualities that Maltese doctors are internationally acclaimed for.

The introduction of a new concept is never easy but hard work and commitment have translated in the successful setting up of a local training programme, which was introduced in the UK in 2005. The Maltese health authorities left no stone unturned to ensure that the programme succeeded and that doctors are provided with the highest quality of training. In addition, the health services are striving to ensure that there will be plenty of opportunities for high-quality specialist training in Malta once these doctors finish their Foundation training. In this way, patients will continue to receive the high quality of care they deserve in Maltese hospitals.

The author is manager of the Foundation Programme Malta.

info@carolinegalea.com