bad reference

Yeah, it is illegal to give a "bad" reference, but I know (in my own experience through checking with HR at my hospital) that if you leave short of your notice period, they will mention it in any references.

But, if a medical school has already spent the time to interview you, offer you a place and then check (which I doubt they do for every student) the references they will withdraw an offer based on that. And IF they do, I'm sure it can be appealed.

They just want confirmation of you doing your work experience, I don't think they are calling all the references (at least 2 on average per applicant) of each offer (lets say they make 400), that's 800 references.

I'd bet they only check a sample, then only ask for confirmation at that. They're too busy to read through 800 references.

It's not illegal to give someone a bad reference.

I just looked up the law and you are correct, provided they can back up their claims with evidence (eg warning letters).

Although total jobs did say this:

"However, many employers are scared to give bad references because anything considered to be not 100% accurate could be grounds for legal action. If you find out that you have been unfairly given a bad reference then you could possibly sue."

Yeah, it is illegal to give a "bad" reference, but I know (in my own experience through checking with HR at my hospital) that if you leave short of your notice period, they will mention it in any references.

But, if a medical school has already spent the time to interview you, offer you a place and then check (which I doubt they do for every student) the references they will withdraw an offer based on that. And IF they do, I'm sure it can be appealed.

They just want confirmation of you doing your work experience, I don't think they are calling all the references (at least 2 on average per applicant) of each offer (lets say they make 400), that's 800 references.

I'd bet they only check a sample, then only ask for confirmation at that. They're too busy to read through 800 references.