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Tasters and How to Apply

What is a Taster?

A taster is a period of time, usually two to five days, spent in a specialty in which you have not previously worked.

Its purpose is to enable the development of insight into the work of a specialty/ general practice, promote careers reflection and 'lifestyle' of a speciality.

During your Foundation training you may apply for a maximum of two Taster weeks. Tasters are available for both F1 and F2 and we would usually suggest that they are taken at any time from the end of the first post in F1 through to the end of F2.

All Tasters should be well planned and focused. In order to support these experiences foundation doctors must agree a set of aims and objectives that will be achieved during the Tasters which can be included as part of a Turas Training Portfolio. To fully benefit from Tasters, Foundation doctors should discuss their career aspirations with their Educational Supervisor and/or Foundation Programme Director.

Tasters help support foundation doctors onto the correct career path and foundation doctors are encouraged to use these days and apply using Turas Study Leave application process.

Please also see the link to the pages on the UKFPO website here. 

Link to Process Flowchart

This process must be followed even if the taster takes place during annual leave and weekly leave. This is due to insurance reasons as some locations incur "hidden" costs to NES.

The application for a Taster should take place after discussion with the foundation doctors Educational Supervisor so that the aspirations of the foundation doctor are likely to be met by the taster.

For leave to be granted, the following will be required:

  • After first confirming with Service that the proposed taster days can be accommodated
  • A Study Leave application must be completed via Turas by the foundation doctor giving at least 6-8 weeks' notice to the Service for this leave
  • Please ensure that you specify as part of the application the location/hospital and specialty in which the taster will be undertaken
  • All requests for a Taster MUST be made through the study leave applications process on Turas
  • Leave must only be arranged when a foundation doctor is due to be working normal days
  • The aims and objectives of the taster and the reasons for choosing the specialty should be detailed on the foundation Turas Training Portfolio as part of the Taster Form
  • Written or e-mail acceptance from the supervising Consultant for the taster should be included in the foundation doctors Turas Training Portfolio
  • No expenses will be given for taster leave

The Process

Step 1: The foundation doctor identifies the specialty in which they want to experience a taster

Step 2: The foundation doctor must obtain service approval from current placement that they can take the Taster in their current block

Step 3: The foundation doctor approaches the relevant Consultant and obtain written permission to spend time in their specialty, agreeing the number of days and dates

Step 4: The foundation doctor obtains approval from their current supervisor that the proposed dates are suitable for service

Step 5: The foundation doctor discusses this taster with their Educational Supervisor/Foundation Programme Director

Step 6: The foundation doctor completes a Study Leave Application via Turas which MUST include the specialty and location/hospital the taster will be undertaken

Approved: Following the taster the foundation doctor must complete the Taster Form in the Turas Portfolio - which can be linked to FPC13

Not Approved: The foundation doctor must cancel any arrangement made with the specialty Consultant and discuss with your Educational Supervisor/Foundation Programme Director why the leave has not been approved

The foundation doctor will be informed by e-mail from their Foundation Programme Director whether their application has been approved or not through the study leave process.

After the taster the foundation doctor will need to provide the following:

  • they must reflect upon their experience and complete the Taster Form in the Turas Portfolio which can be linked FPC 13
  • they must consider whether their original aims and objectives were met by the taster

A Taster should be no more than five days per Taster will be allowed for this experience.

Only one Taster can be taken per block and no more than five days can be taken per specialty.

The maximum number throughout Foundation is two Tasters (N.B. not two Tasters per training year).

If your supervisor agrees, you may take both Tasters in F1 or in F2 or you may wish to take one Taster in each training year.

Ideally this would take place within your current employing Board, as this would facilitate both the organisation and monitoring of such an experience.  

It will be the responsibility of the foundation doctor to organise these Tasters. 

The foundation doctor must obtain approval from the current supervisors that the dates for the Tasters are suitable and that there is acceptance from the supervising Consultant.

The Scottish Foundation School will only approve tasters within your current home region of training unless the experience cannot be provided locally e.g. remote and rural GP. 

The Foundation School will not approve Tasters abroad or out-with Scotland.

Specialty Contacts

All departments within Ninewells Hospital unless otherwise stated.

Specialty

Training Programme Director

Acute (Internal) Medicine

Dr Achyut Valluri

Anaesthetics

Dr Cameron Weir

Cardiology

Dr Benjamin Szwejkowski

Clinical Radiology

Dr Shilpi Pal

Core Psychiatry

Dr Laura Sutherland

Dermatology

Dr Sharizan Adbul-Ghaffar

Diagnostic Neuropathology

Professor Colin Smith

Emergency Medicine

Dr Andy Paterson

Endocrinology and Diabetes

Dr Priya George

Gastroenterology

Dr Max Groome

General (Internal) Medicine

Dr Paul Cadden

General Practice

TBC

General Psychiatry

Dr Judith English

General Surgery

Mr Alastair Moses

Geriatric Medicine

Dr John Harper

Haematology

Dr Sudhir Tauro

Histopathology

Dr Christina Harper

Internal Medical Training (IMT)

Dr Suzy Silburn

Intensive Care Medicine

Dr Judith Joss

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Dr Caithlin Neill

Ophthalmology

Dr Caroline Cobb

Otolaryngology

Mr Richard Adamson

Paediatrics

Dr Alice Jollands

Plastic Surgery

Dr Stuart Waterston

Public Health

Dr Jane Bray

Renal Medicine

Dr Graham Stewart

Respiratory Medicine

Dr Peter Williamson

Rheumatology

Dr Suzy Silburn

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Mr Simon Johnson

 

Alternative contact details for assistance with arranging Tasters in the East Region.

Specialty

Specialty Lead for Foundation

General Surgery

HDU

Neurology

Urology

Mr John Scollay

Dr Linda Dubiel

Ms Kathy White

Mr Greg Kata

Dermatology

General Medicine

Ophthalmology

Dr Alyson Bryden

TBC

Dr Helen Murgatroyd

Geriatric Medicine (Royal Victoria Hospital)

Palliative Medicine (Cornhill, Perth)

Palliative Medicine (Roxburgh House, Dundee)

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr Carolyn Leslie

Dr Abi Walton

Dr Elinor Brabin

Mr Doug Robinson

General Surgery (Perth Royal Infirmary)

Paediatrics

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery (Perth Royal Infirmary)

Mr John Scollay

Dr Shetty Bhushan

Mr Simon Thomas

Emergency Medicine

General Practice

Haematology

Oncology

Psychiatry

Dr Andy Paterson

Dr Simon Austin

TBC

TBC

Dr Mhairi Hepburn

General Medicine (Perth Royal Infirmary)

Maxillofacial Surgery

Neurosurgery

Otolaryngology

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Plastic Surgery

Dr Priya Nair

Mr Doug Kennedy

Mr Kismet Hossain-Ibrahim

Mrs Ceilidh Kennedy

Dr Vimala Nellore

Mr Matthew Hough

Specialty Contacts

NHS Grampian

All departments within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) unless otherwise stated.

Department

Lead Contact

Acute Medicine

Dr Steven Close 

Anaesthetics

Dr Calum McDonald

Cardiology

Dr Andrew Stewart

Chemical Pathology

Dr Kevin Deans

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health

Dr Dianna Reed

Critical Care

Dr Stephen Friar

Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine 

Dr Christopher Skinner

Emergency Medicine

Dr Innes Crawford 

Endocrinology and Diabetes

Dr Utkarsh Kulkarni

Gastroenterology

Dr Lindsay McLeman

General Medicine

Dr Robert Laing

General Medicine, Dr Gray’s, Elgin

Dr Louise Millar

General Psychiatry, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen

Dr Leah Drever

General Practice

North Foundation Admin Team

General Surgery

Dr Craig Parnaby

Geriatric Medicine and 

Community Geriatric Medicine

Dr Clare Bostock

Haematology

Dr Dominic Culligan

Histopathology

Dr Louise Smith

Infectious Diseases

Dr Robert Laing

Maxillofacial Surgery

Mr Terrance Lowe

Neurology

Dr Elizabeth Visser

Neurosurgery

Mr Mohit Arora 

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Dr Sharon Rajkumar

Oncology

Dr Ann-Maree Kennedy

Ophthalmology

Dr Rosalind Stewart

Otolaryngology

Dr Vamsidhar Vallamkondu

Paediatrics, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital

Mr Yatin Patel

Palliative Medicine, Roxburghe House, Aberdeen

Dr Lucy Cogdell

Plastic Surgery

Mr Alain Curnier

Public Health

Dr Phil Mackie

Renal Medicine

Dr Carol Brunton

Respiratory Medicine

Dr David Miller

Stroke Medicine

Dr Sneh Banik

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen

Mr Santosh Baliga & Ms Clare Miller

Urology

Dr Justine Royle

Vascular Surgery

Mr Michael Sharp

  

NHS Highland

Department

Lead Contact

Anaesthetics

Dr Graeme Brown

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health

Dr Waheed Khan

Emergency Medicine

Dr Nicola MacInnes

General Practice

North Administration Team

Intensive Care Medicine

Dr Marian Mackinnon

Lab specialties

Dr Vanda Plecko

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Dr Rajesh Annappa

Occupational Medicine

Dr Mark Hilditch

Ophthalmology

Dr Shona Macleod

Otolaryngology

Mr Angus Cain

Paediatrics

Dr Alan Webb

Pathology

Dr Grant Stenhouse

Psychiatry

Dr Neil NcNamara

Public Health

Dr Tim Allison

Radiology

Dr Jason Walker

Remote and Rural General Practice

North Administration Team

Remote and Rural Hospital Practice

Dr Duncan Scott or Marina Simpson (Administrator)

Specialty Contacts

Acute Internal Medicine Dr Lynn McCallum
Anaesthetics Dr Linzi Peacock
Cardiology Dr Christopher Lang
Cardiothoracic Surgery Mr John Butler
Clinical Pharmacology Dr David Webb
Clinical Radiology Dr Judith Anderson
Core Anaesthetics Dr Linzi Peacock
Internal Medicine Training (IMT) Dr Clive Goddard/Dr Kerri Baker
Core Psychiatry Dr Norman Nuttall
Dermatology Dr Caroline Murray/Dr Chandralekha Bertram
Emergency Medicine Dr. Craig Davidson
Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus Dr Anna Dover
Gastroenterology Dr Carol Blair
General Psychiatry Dr Fiona Clunie
General Surgery Mr Brian Mander
Geriatric Medicine Dr Susan Pound
Haematology Dr Fiona Scott
Histopathology Dr Marie Mathers
Intensive Care Medicine Dr Neil Young
Medical Microbiology Dr Pota Kalima
Medical Ophthalmology Dr Graeme Williams
Medical Virology Dr Eleri Wilson-Davies
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Paul Mills
Occupational Medicine Dr Kashif Ali
Old Age Psychiatry Dr Stuart Ritchie
Otolaryngology Mr Richard Adamson
Ophthalmology Mr Pankaj Agarwal
Paediatrics Dr Laura Jones/Dr Ailsa McLellan
Plastic Surgery Mr Stuart Waterston
Psychiatry of Learning Disability Dr John Russell
Renal Medicine Dr Paddy Gibson
Respiratory Medicine Dr Tracey Bradshaw
Rheumatology Dr Philip Riches
Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Mr Samuel Molyneux
Core Surgical Training Mr Satheesh Yalamarthi
Vascular Surgery Mr Stuart Suttie
Genitourinary medicine (GUM) imali.fernando@nhs.scot
Sexual and Reproductive Health sarah.millar@nhs.scot

 If your GP taster application is approved, the Foundation team will allocate you a GP Practice to undertake your taster session.

Specialty Contacts

For information on Tasters in specialties in the West Region not listed in the tables below, please contact your Consortia Lead Administrator:

South Consortium: Programmes W01 - W08

Consortia Lead Administrator: Mary Smith

North & East Consortium: Programmes W09 - W16

Consortia Lead Administrator: Tracy Boue or Jean Elliott

West Consortium: Programmes W17 - W24

Consortia Lead Administrator: Mary Smith

Name

Speciality

Email address

Location

Colin Pow

Anaesthetics

colin.pow@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

Crosshouse

Barbara Stanley

Oncology

Barbara.stanley@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Beatson

David Yorston

Ophthalmology

David.Yorston@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GGH

Karen Hogg

Cardiology

Karen.hogg@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Shona Jenkins

Cardiology

Shona.jenkins@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Louise Melia

ENT

louise.melia@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Kate Hughes

Diabetes/Endocrinology

Kate.hughes2@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Gemma Currie

Diabetes/Endocrinology

Gemma.currie@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Kathryn Puxty

Intensive Care

Kathryn.Puxty@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Jennifer Cuthill

Intensive Care

Jennifer.Cuthill@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Carol Craig

Surgery

Carol.craig@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Mary Brown

Urology

Mary.brown3@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Devin Chetty

Emergency Medicine

devin.chetty@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Kirsty Colquhoun

Geriatric Medicine

Kirsty.colquhoun@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Adam Capek

Anaesthetics

Adam.Capek@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Laura McGregor

Rheumatology

Laura.mcgregor@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Gemma McGivern

Radiology

Gemma.mcgivern@nhs.scot

GRI

Rachael Bradnock

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

rachael.bradnock@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Karen Meadley

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Karen.meadley@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Laura Thomson              

Radiology

Laura.thomson4@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Ravi Jamdar

Acute Medicine

Ravi.jamdar@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

John Telfer

Plastic Surgery

John.Telfer@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI

Libby Ferguson

Palliative care

Libby.Ferguson@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI/Hospice

Krishna Dani

Neurology

Krishna.Dani@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

GRI/QEUH

Mark McAuley

General Practice

mark.mcauley2@nhs.scot

Kirkintilloch

Kate Stevens

Renal Medicine

Kate.Stevens@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QEUH

Erica Peters

Infection Diseases

Erica.Peters@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QEUH

Rebecca Campbell

Public Health

rebecca.campbell7@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

QEUH

Richard Appleton

Critical Care

richard.appleton@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QEUH

Louise Clark

ENT

Louise.Clark@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QEUH

Georgios Kontorinis

ENT

Georgios.Kontorinis@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QEUH

Alisdair McConachie

Infection Diseases

Alisdair.macconnachie@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

QUEH

Edgar Brincatt

Paediatric ICU

Edgar.Brincat@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

RHC

Laura McLaren

Paediatrics

Laura.Mclaren@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

RHC

West Glasgow: Laura Somerville

East Glasgow: Sarah Laraway

North Glasgow: James Houston

Renfrewshire: Lesley McDonald

Community Paediatrics

Laura.Somerville@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

 

sarah.laraway@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

 

alison.maccorquodale@nhs.scot /ggc.cpadmin@nhs.scot

 

Lesley.McDonald3@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

The West Centre, Glasgow

William Street Clinic, Glasgow

Child Health, Lynnside, Oban

LAC (Looked After Children) Health Team / Panda Centre, Renfrew

Pauline O’Neill

Anaesthetics

Pauline.oneill@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

RAH

Pauline O’Neill

Intensive Care

Pauline.oneill@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

RAH

Erica Campbell

Psychiatry

Erica.campbell@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Stobhill

Gareth McGuigan

Psychiatry

Gareth.mcguigan@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Stobhill

Colin Malcolm

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Colin.malcolm@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Wishaw

Cassandra Ferguson

Anaesthetics

Cassandra.Ferguson@nhs.scot

Forth Valley Royal Hospital

Yvonne McFarlane

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health

ggc.sandyford.training@nhs.scot

Sandyford

Yvonne McFarlane

Genitourinary medicine

ggc.sandyford.training@nhs.scot

Sandyford

 



This page was last updated on: 18.09.2025 at 12.05


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