Fifty-nine newly qualified doctors have begun work shadowing at Craigavon Area and Daisy Hill hospitals, marking the start of their Foundation Year 1 (FY1) posts in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

The doctors will complete a supervised induction period before taking on full responsibility for patient care, according to the trust.

They were welcomed by Assistant Director Simon Gibson, Foundation Programme Director Dr Debbie Cullen, and Senior Medical Education Manager Kelly Wylie.

The induction programme covers IT onboarding, resuscitation training, pharmacy and antimicrobial stewardship, IV fluid management, and haemovigilance training.

The new recruits also undertake simulation-based exercises focused on assessing and managing deteriorating patients, out-of-hours prioritisation, and escalation of care.

The trust said the programme is designed to build clinical confidence and prepare the doctors for their first on-call shifts.

The 59 doctors will serve across the two hospitals as resident doctors, with the trust providing ongoing educational and pastoral support throughout their two-year foundation programme.