Medical Work

Hi, I am aspiring to read medicine at university. I have the work experience needed (I think), but was wondering, is it really hard to get a job as like a receptionist at a hospital?

If I were to look for a job in a hospital, which post would you suggest applying for? Also for volunteering, are there any departments/wards which are more prone to accepting people? (As I know of someone volunteering in the A&E reception - due to contacts), but are there any departments that will accept more long-term volunteers?

Many thanks!

will be 16 when i do the work.

Ahh thanks, I have looked along the care home route, but the ones nearby don't accept volunteers unfortunately.

You said that you work in the opthamology ward, how long do you volunteer for every week? Also how old are you (sorry if this offends you :/), and how did you go about getting the volunteer vacancy, did you write to them or do you know someone that works there? Also what does the opthamology ward do, like what does it specialize in?

That's unfortunate. I know it is very difficult to find voluntary work.

I volunteer every Tuesday morning from 8:30 - 12:30. It doesn't offend me. I am 19, currently on a gap year and applying to medicine. My local trust has a specific 'voluntary services department' and I contacted them, and they sent me an application form (which I could also find on the website). I filled it in, sent it in and got the position.

Opthalmology is the study of eyes, I work within the E.E.N.T. (eyes, ear, nose and throat) building. The particular area I am a receptionist for is called the EDCU - the eye day case unit - where patients come in for minor operations to their eyes, usually done under local anaesthetic, and then go home the same day. Most of the ops we get are cataract operations, so most of the patients are 65+. Being a receptionist is a lot more than just checking in patients: I have to sort out the files (put in packs with pre/peri operative sheets, put in charts, etc.) for all the patients in preparation for their pre-assessment and operation and that takes up a lot of my time. Every now and again I liaise between a patient in the recovery area with a relative in the waiting room.

That's unfortunate. I know it is very difficult to find voluntary work.

I volunteer every Tuesday morning from 8:30 - 12:30. It doesn't offend me. I am 19, currently on a gap year and applying to medicine. My local trust has a specific 'voluntary services department' and I contacted them, and they sent me an application form (which I could also find on the website). I filled it in, sent it in and got the position.

Opthalmology is the study of eyes, I work within the E.E.N.T. (eyes, ear, nose and throat) building. The particular area I am a receptionist for is called the EDCU - the eye day case unit - where patients come in for minor operations to their eyes, usually done under local anaesthetic, and then go home the same day. Most of the ops we get are cataract operations, so most of the patients are 65+. Being a receptionist is a lot more than just checking in patients: I have to sort out the files (put in packs with pre/peri operative sheets, put in charts, etc.) for all the patients in preparation for their pre-assessment and operation and that takes up a lot of my time. Every now and again I liaise between a patient in the recovery area with a relative in the waiting room.

Thanks for this, it's been very informative. I do have volunteer work already, around 400 or so hours at the BHF but just wanted something more relevant to the course I want to pursue. Would you recommend that I contact a large department (i.e. A & E) or would I tend to get more luck in the smaller wards? As when I'm 16, I might approach the ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) again, as they said they might be able to give me a long-term volunteering, as I was 'eager'.

I guess being 'over-eager' in anything helps a lot as I got a week working in a haemotology lab, by saying along the lines of 'I adore the workings of blood, I 'love' blood', and I guess my offer of work experience can't have been turned down :P

Hey...I think your best chance is to LITERALLY stalk the hospitals around your area. What I mean is phone them regularly asking to do some voluntary work- phone each separate ward (this may take time but If you're anywhere as eager as me, you'd do what I did!). Also another great one to look at is the GPs and Pharmacies in your area.
Always tell them that you just want to do some voluntary work to gain experience as you want to go into medicine and you'll be a great helping hand in their institution!

Aaand one more hint for ya, contact your family GP/Doctor personally and beg them (in a dignified manner) to let you do 'some' voluntary work with them/at the place they work. Remember, you may not have contacts, as in family or friends that work within the medical field, but you always have your family doctor!

I was trying to do this the other day, got round to phoning around 10 wards of my local hospital so far. Got about 20 left :P But i intend as you say, 'stalk' the hospitals, and maybe next weekend, might visit each ward, and see if I can get a volunteer vacancy at ANY of them So did you end up getting any volunteer work at any of the hospitals you enquired at?

Yeah I got the opportunity to sort of shadow a doctor. I basically just walked around wherever the doctor went unless I was asked to stay with a secretary and help do some sorting or something. Not the most exciting thing in the entire universe but looked great on my UCAS! And it was actually really exciting most of the time to be honest.

Yeah I got the opportunity to sort of shadow a doctor. I basically just walked around wherever the doctor went unless I was asked to stay with a secretary and help do some sorting or something. Not the most exciting thing in the entire universe but looked great on my UCAS! And it was actually really exciting most of the time to be honest.

Doesn't matter about how good it looks on your UCAS, it's about how much it made you think about why you wanted to be a doctor

Aren't they kinda the same thing?

No, I could say I worked with HEMS for six months (looks good on my UCAS) where in actual fact I was a paid street charity collector(/mugger) signing up direct debits for HEMS (doesn't actually teach much about being a doctor).

How about volunteering at a hospice if you have one in the area?