Pathology – Foundation Priority Programme 2025
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
This programme offers pathology experience and education to foundation doctors alongside their two-year foundation training. This will involve longitudinally integrated pathology experience, an F1 pathology taster and F2 training block.
Programme outline
Monthly pathology special interest sessions – half a day each month for the 2 year programme in the pathology department working with pathologists.
F1 pathology taster – 1 week working in pathology during F1 following a bespoke timetable to gain experience of a range of pathology specialties.
F2 pathology post – 2 month pathology block in or a 4 month post split equally between pathology and another specialty in F2.
Pathology mentor – assigned a consultant pathologist mentor for the duration of the 2 year programme who they will meet regularly for supervision sessions.
Pathology buddy – work with a named pathology doctor in training for support with their pathology work during the priority programme.
Quality improvement project – opportunity to undertake pathology QI projects during their priority programme.
National conference and education events – can use study leave to attend national pathology conferences and participate in local educational activities.
Royal College of Pathologists – eligible to apply for RCPath Foundation Fellowship.
Enhance Explore – Foundation Priority Programme 2025
Enhance explore is a further educational offer in which doctors undertake specialised foundation programmes. These programmes give protected time to further explore the enhance learning. From August 2025 start, these explore placements will be available to apply for via the foundation priority programmes recruitment. For further information click here: A guide for Foundation doctors on the enhance programme
Each explore programme is slightly different depending on role and locality, but will involve a specialised foundation placement that supports development as a generalist and supports an enhance leadership project. This placement may be stretched over the two years of foundation or be focussed in one of the four-month attachments.
UHD – Bournemouth/Poole – Psychiatry
2 longitudinally integrated foundation training (LIFT) programmes that include 1 day per week over the 2 year programme in Psychiatry plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
UHD – Bournemouth/Poole – Sexual Health
1 longitudinally integrated foundation training (LIFT) programme that includes 1 day per week over the 2 year programme in Sexual Health plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
UHD – Bournemouth/Poole – Public Health
2 longitudinally integrated foundation training (LIFT) programmes that include 1 day per week over the 2 year programme in Public Health plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
UHD – Bournemouth/Poole – Microbiology
1 longitudinally integrated foundation training (LIFT) that includes 1 day per week over the 2 year programme in microbiology outpatient antibiotic therapy – OPAT plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
Dorchester
3 programmes offering quality improvement work in both years and focussing on hospital at home service as part of acute medicine post in F2 plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme
Isle of Wight
3 programmes offering quality improvement project with drug and alcohol services during F2 including working one day per fortnight with drug and alcohol team during F2 ED placement, plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
Jersey
3 longitudinally integrated foundation training (LIFT) programmes that include 1 day per week in F2 in sexual health plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme – Please note the placement information has been updated. GP placements will no longer be included and have been replaced with either Palliative Medicine or Old Age Psychiatry
Portsmouth
3 programmes offering quality improvement work in public health and additional 1 day per week during F2 ED placement plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
Salisbury
3 programmes offering quality improvement work in/linked to F1 public health placement plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme.
Winchester
3 programmes offering quality improvement work in microbiology plus explore study days spread over the 2 year programme
Enhance Explore programmes are also available at Southampton and Basingstoke, these programmes will be recruited to through the standard Foundation recruitment process.
For further information please refer to the Wessex Enhance pages