Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason graduates of UK medical schools are being given placeholder positions with four to eight weeks’ notice to move to new roles.

Some United Kingdom foundation programme applicants, including some final year UK medical students, have been assigned a placeholder in their allocated foundation school while their foundation posts can be confirmed. The process of confirming posts can take some time, as it is necessary to ensure that all placements are of adequate educational quality and meet the curriculum requirements for foundation training. All eligible applicants who are allocated to a foundation school are guaranteed a place on the programme.

NHS England has committed to communicating with the applicants in placeholders, and foundation schools have also been in regular contact with them. Each foundation school has provided specific communications relating to their processes, and have hosted a series of webinars or, where possible, spoken to each of the applicants individually. National webinars for affected applicants are also taking place in April and May.