Introduction of a National Foundation Year 1 Mentoring Programme

TL;DR

A national mentoring program for new doctors helps reduce stress and supports their transition from medical students to professionals.

Contribution

A scalable, peer-led mentoring program for FY1 doctors was introduced and evaluated nationally.

Findings

The program matched over 800 mentees with mentors across two cycles, showing high demand.

Participants reported reduced anxiety and valued the advice and support received.

Feedback highlighted the need for more structured guidance and one-to-one mentoring.

Abstract

Background

The transition from medical student to Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor is marked by high stress and rapid professional adaptation, with many new graduates feeling underprepared. Mentoring has been shown to support resident doctors, but access to such programmes remains inconsistent across the United States.

Methods

In partnership with Mind the Bleep, a free medical education platform for resident doctors and healthcare professionals, a national, peer-led mentoring scheme was developed to support incoming FY1 doctors. The programme matched final-year medical students with current FY1 doctors across two cycles (August 2023 and August 2024 cohorts). Feedback was collected at the end of each cycle to assess engagement, perceived usefulness, and guide areas for improvement.

Results

The first cycle matched 420 mentees with 230 mentors (ratio 1.83), whilst the second cycle matched 861 mentees with 146 mentors (ratio 5.90). Although contact frequency varied, mentees reported benefits such as receiving advice and reducing anxiety, whilst mentors valued the opportunity to give back and reflect on their own experiences. Mean usefulness ratings ranged from 3.25 to 3.93 (out of 5). Participant feedback guided key areas for improvement including matching by geographical location and more structured guidance.

Conclusion

This national peer-led mentoring scheme offers accessible and valuable support to new FY1 doctors during a critical transition. The programme complements local efforts and demonstrates potential for sustainable, scalable impact across the NHS. According to the findings, it can be seen that the mentoring scheme demonstrated clear demand and perceived value amongst both mentors and mentees. The voluntary, peer-led model has proven feasible and sustainable with limited administrative input. Matching participants by location enhanced relevance but introduced logistical constraints. Feedback underscored a desire for more structured support and one-to-one mentoring, which are being addressed through enhanced mentor recruitment strategies and refined supporting materials.