Good hospitals for socials and accommodation

Hi,

I'm starting to think of where to apply for Fy1/Fy2. I don't have a boyfriend or any other particular ties to a certain area so I am open to go pretty much anywhere! At the moment I am thinking of applying for South Thames but also considering Oxford and Wessex deaneries as well.

One of the really important things for me is that there are good opportunities to make friends with other junior doctors in the hospital. I know we will all be very busy, but I would ideally like a hospital where a lot of the fy1/fy2s stay in hospital accommodation and there is a good doctor's mess with lots of social opportunities throughout the year.

Has anyone had any experience of any hospitals which fit these criteria?! Ideally within south thames, oxford or wessex deaneries? Or is there anywhere I would be able to find out this information?

Thank you so much!

I was in South Thames. Deliberately chose a hospital that was not close to London or anything too exciting for F1. It meant that people didn't rush away at evenings/weekends. I worked in Margate where there were only 20 of us, we were all quite close and even went on holiday together (never seen medical staffing look so nervous). We still keep in touch now with a whatsapp group, and almost half of them are coming to my wedding next weekend.

In my experience the best places:
*Are not in a huge city
*Have a smallish cohort
*DGH

Thank you for your advice! Sounds like you had a really good experience! I agree that if I am in South Thames i will definitely try and go to one of the hospitals outside of London. Do you think that these are a bit less competitive?

Also, just out of curiosity, why would you say that a DGH is a better option to a teaching hospital?

Thanks

Yes they usually are less competitive although that depends. If they're in a nice area then that changes slightly. I did my F2 year at St Thomas' which was very different. I loved Margate and it was a great place to do F1, I wasn't desperate to be in London work wise so it made it easier for me to choose where I did. My other options were all small-medium sized hospitals. I've done two years in huge hospitals and never even went to the mess or knew where it was. Now I'm back in a medium sized hospital and never see the mess or juniors outside my specialty but that's because I was silly with my career choice

again thanks for your reply. just one other question. did you live in hospital accommodation in Margate? If so, did most of the other fy1s? Just trying to judge whether having hospital accommodation available, which most of the junior doctors use, makes a difference to whether it is quite friendly & sociable or not !

Reading was very active.

Slough doesn't have a mess that I've seen so far (!).

Not in the area you're specifically asking about but I have to give a mention to Peninsula deanery.which I found an awesome place to do final year of med school and F1/2. Especially Torbay hospital, a DGH on the south devon coast with a hugely active mess, consultants are so friendly and great at teaching, lots to do as its a holiday destination , and former HSJ 'acute trust of the year'.
A really great choice if you're looking to explore more of England in your foundation years and make new friends!

Thanks! By Slough do you mean Wexham Park hospital?

Yes

We're genuinely wondering whether there is some corruption going on - we've all had £10 taken off of our pay slips to go to the mess but they have done nothing so far. No introductory events, no welcome, nothing.

x

East Kent is where all the fun is

As in good mess ? What about accommodation?

The accommodation is pretty nice in Ashford. It's been recently redone.

The mess is pretty reasonable. There's always a group going on a night out every week and the weekly meet ups in the pub alongside whatever people want to do during the week