[Pastaferian]

I'm about to do my first placement in a hospital (as I'm about to be a little critical, I won't say which one, but it's in London). One of my questions to the hospital was whether there would be any secure storage for my belongings (coat, umbrella, mobile, small rucksack) while I'm following the consultant around. I got an unhelpful "don't know" from the HR department, so I wondered if anyone here has any experience to offer.

[Elwyn]

Haven't got any experience in hospitals outside of south wales but can't see why they'd be different. All hospitals I've been to have lockers or at the very least a locked staff room you can put stuff in.

[digitalis]

(Original post by Pastaferian)
I'm about to do my first placement in a hospital (as I'm about to be a little critical, I won't say which one, but it's in London). One of my questions to the hospital was whether there would be any secure storage for my belongings (coat, umbrella, mobile, small rucksack) while I'm following the consultant around. I got an unhelpful "don't know" from the HR department, so I wondered if anyone here has any experience to offer.

I wouldn't count on it. We just dump all our bags in a pile in the unlocked doctors room on the ward and hang our coats on a stolen coat rack. We were advised to take out personal contents insurance for any valuables taken onto the ward by the Trust. Can't tell if you are a med student or not, but if you are, try speaking to the Postgraduate medical education centre people to find if there are medical student lockers anywhere. If you are just doing work experience, highly unlikely.

[Helenia]

I didn't have a locker on most of my placements. Took a little shoulder girl-bag sometimes, or just stashed my rucksack in a corner of the office/under the ward clerk's desk. I never had anything stolen but I know plenty of people who did, especially from theatre changing rooms.

I don't even have a proper locker in my actual theatre job so far.

[thegodofgod]

(Original post by Pastaferian)
I'm about to do my first placement in a hospital (as I'm about to be a little critical, I won't say which one, but it's in London). One of my questions to the hospital was whether there would be any secure storage for my belongings (coat, umbrella, mobile, small rucksack) while I'm following the consultant around. I got an unhelpful "don't know" from the HR department, so I wondered if anyone here has any experience to offer.

On my work experience placement I just carried my valuables (wallet, phone, keys) in the pocket in my scrubs

I didn't get to use a locker to keep my clothes in - just left them hanging on a peg in the changing rooms.

[Wangers]

(Original post by Pastaferian)
I'm about to do my first placement in a hospital (as I'm about to be a little critical, I won't say which one, but it's in London). One of my questions to the hospital was whether there would be any secure storage for my belongings (coat, umbrella, mobile, small rucksack) while I'm following the consultant around. I got an unhelpful "don't know" from the HR department, so I wondered if anyone here has any experience to offer.

Don't take so much stuff. Most just go for a little shoulder bag, take a notepad, pen, some chocolate. Most places dont hae enough storage for their staff, you'll be low to invisible on the priority list.

[Pastaferian]

Thank you all for the advice from your own experiences. Guess I'll have to take minimal stuff, keep small valuables on my person, and keep my fingers crossed.

[gozatron]

Doubt it. Just throw it behind a desk and hope for the best.

[fairy spangles]

Do you not have a medical student common room?

[RollerBall]

When I did work experience (UHW) they gave us lockers in the medical student common room.

[magichearts]

Some hospitals give us lockers (usually too small to even fit my bag in, but a bit of shoving does the trick). Most don't...so I usually carry my bag to clinics. When I get there, I would throw it under my chair. When I'm on the ward, I would go to the staff locker room/doctor's room and put my bag in the corner under a desk (so not right in the open) and hope no one takes it. The theatre changing room is usually the hot spot for theft. Somehow most things get stolen in the female changing rooms. I have never gotten a locker in the changing rooms so I hang em up on the hooks or put my clothes on the bench (far from the door and out of the way so no one shoves it onto the floor). I've had a friend who got her jumper stolen before so I usually don't wear my nicer clothes on theatre days. I usually take my bag with me to the prep room (watch what other doctors do or ask at reception what you should do with your bag). For the hospitals here, most of us bring our bags to the prep room and just chuck it in the corner and there's usually a pile of bags there already. At least you know your bag is nearby and in between surgeries you can see if it is still there. General rule is keep your valuables at home or on you.

Hope that helps.

[digitalis]

What is this medical student common room you speak of?

[Helenia]

(Original post by digitalis)
What is this medical student common room you speak of?

We had one at Addies (where we also had lockers) but nothing like that anywhere else. You could leave stuff in the doctors' mess but that was varyingly secure.

[fairy spangles]

(Original post by digitalis)
What is this medical student common room you speak of?

It's where the free tea and coffee and biscuits used to live. And where the left over posh food from conferences and meetings gets donated. And on special occasions reps came to give us free stuff like pens, paper and highlighters.