Tasters

If you would like to experience a specialty not included in your two year foundation programme then you should be able to arrange a taster. Tasters provide you with the opportunity to develop your ideas and understanding of the specialty. They allow you to sample life working in that specialist area, and thereby help you to make a more informed decision about your career. Tasters can also benefit those who have already made career decisions as it suggests to employers that they are dedicated and committed to their chosen specialty.

KSS and London Deaneries have agreed that F1s may “borrow” 1 week of their F2 study leave in order to facilitate a “taster” during the final rotation of the F1 year. The formal policy for "Provision of Specialty Tasters for Foundation Doctors" is available to download below.

Arranging a Taster:

First check with your postgraduate/medical education centre about how tasters are organised locally. Generally, tasters are taken as part of study leave in foundation year two and last for about a week. It may be possible to undertake a taster within a different trust, in which case you would also need to arrange an honorary contract with the trust concerned.

As your taster will inform and may support your applications for your next training post, ideally it should have been completed by the time you are applying. It is therefore a good idea to start planning your taster early, and either do it towards the end of your F1 year or make arrangements soon after you start your F2 year with the aim doing the taster in the autumn of your F2 year if possible.

Available external tasters

Genitourinary Medicine Taster
21-22 January 2010
St George's Hospital
Contact Louise Hart (louise.hart@stgeorges.nhs.uk) or call 020 8725 0041 to register.

For information

An article “Sampling specialties: Taster days for UK foundation doctors” which appeared in the December 2009 edition of the Student BMJ is available to download below.