Medical work experience sought this summer - can you help?

[Jagger]

Hi my daughter is currently sitting GCSEs and will be 16 in July. She is studying locally and already has two GCSEs at A* (ICT and Maths Statistics) and is taking a further 9 GCSEs. She hopes to study Medicine. She is highly trustworthy and hardworking (and is a volunteer Police Cadet).

She hasn't been able to secure a work placement as yet for this summer, so if anyone is able to offer her work in a medical setting for a week or so (she would ideally eventually like to work in Psychiatry or Surgery) do please PM me.

Thank you.

[JDR]

I'm unable to offer those things and you will find that there aren't many options for those to happen. I work in Lewisham healthcare and there is a fairly blanket policy related to age/insurance/confidentiality/criminal record checks (admittedly we get told something different each time it crops up). I would suggest she tries to get work as either a volunteer at a hospital/ home or takes some paid work as a carer. I've had medical students come around with me and unless she has real experience of patients she will be much less likely to be taken on.

[Jagger]

JDR Wrote:

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> I'm unable to offer those things and you will find

> that there aren't many options for those to

> happen. I work in Lewisham healthcare and there is

> a fairly blanket policy related to

> age/insurance/confidentiality/criminal record

> checks (admittedly we get told something different

> each time it crops up). I would suggest she tries

> to get work as either a volunteer at a hospital/

> home or takes some paid work as a carer. I've had

> medical students come around with me and unless

> she has real experience of patients she will be

> much less likely to be taken on.

Hi just to clarify this would be in a voluntary capacity - i.e. work experience would be unpaid. Although she would eventually like to work in psychiatry or surgery she is realistic in that any work experience would be in this setting rather than in this field - i.e. that she would be answering phones, filing etc. If anyone has any suggestions do please PM me. Thank you.

[JDR]

The circumstances I'm talking about would be mainly observational/ completely unpaid and they largely stopped 10+ years ago. She will get a lot more credit on an application to med school with real patient contact. I personally did work placement within portering ( the first female thy had ever had)and an observational time within a physio dept but that doesn't tend to be allowed these days. Now the applicants have to do a lot to separate themselves. Ideally real contact with the unglamorous side of healthcare ie elderly/ infirm. I also hasten to add I was applying to be a physio and this was nearly 20 years ago. Th expectations of personal contact have increased since then. Good luck finding something

[srisky]

You could contact the post grad education centres or HR of a hospital to find out if work experience is possible. Alternatively, volunteer at nursing/residential homes, day centres etc.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Have a look at www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk in the considering medicine section. Ambulance Trusts, hospices etc are all considered relevant experience for medical school. The trick is articulating that experience and what insights you gained etc, both of yourself and medicine more generally.

[BellendenBear]

I have sent you a PM

[Jagger]

Thanks to all for advice and leads, and thanks to the Forum. My daughter may have secured a placement.

Jagger.