Medicine Work Experience

Hi everyone!

So today I went looking for work experience at a local GP for 2 days over the mid term. Of my three local GP surgeries , two categorically said they don't take students for work experience, and the other surgeries' receptionist said she wasn't sure, and would contact me tomorrow.

The thing is I know one of the surgeries who said no have took students before, I don't know whether I said something wrong but they seemed quite hesitant and perhaps even slightly angry that I had the audacity to ask.
What should I do as I need experience in a GP setting.

Out of interest, why do you have to have GP experience?

I have found from personal experience that getting shadowing experience in a GP surgery is notoriously difficult and due to patient confidentiality, GP's are hesitant to offer such experience. Do you know the circumstances of the students who successfully gained experience? Could they have been related to or friends of staff within the surgery? I only ask to clarify whether you are on an equal plane to them. I seriously doubt you said or did anything wrong though. Fair play to you for at least asking!

My school has organised a three day placement for me at a hospital, 1 1/2 days shadowing different doctors and 1 1/2 days in the lecture rooms to experience a day in the life of a medical student.
The reason I would like a GP placement is that my careers teacher said it is advisable to have a wide breadth of experience from different areas of medicine.

As for the other students I am not sure of their circumstances, but I have often seen students in the clinic when going to my own appointments.

I can understand that. Obviously I am advising you to give up trying, I am just saying don't be surprised if its unsuccessful. The proportion of medical applicants won't have GP experience and that isn't a problem. Medical schools understand that its difficult!

I would recommend just getting as much experience as possible regardless of where it is. Whether its some volunteering at a hospital or care home or even something like working in a charity shop, medical schools will really appreciate the effort you've put in even if its not necessarily clinical.

Hi everyone!

So today I went looking for work experience at a local GP for 2 days over the mid term. Of my three local GP surgeries , two categorically said they don't take students for work experience, and the other surgeries' receptionist said she wasn't sure, and would contact me tomorrow.

The thing is I know one of the surgeries who said no have took students before, I don't know whether I said something wrong but they seemed quite hesitant and perhaps even slightly angry that I had the audacity to ask.
What should I do as I need experience in a GP setting.

Hi everyone!

So today I went looking for work experience at a local GP for 2 days over the mid term. Of my three local GP surgeries , two categorically said they don't take students for work experience, and the other surgeries' receptionist said she wasn't sure, and would contact me tomorrow.

The thing is I know one of the surgeries who said no have took students before, I don't know whether I said something wrong but they seemed quite hesitant and perhaps even slightly angry that I had the audacity to ask.
What should I do as I need experience in a GP setting.

Thanks for the advice,
Yes I am inclined to agree with you, I want to be an oncologist ( this could change ) and I don't see how a GP would benefit me.
Would my 3 day hospital placement, and volunteering in a hospital ward suffice?

Hi everyone!

So today I went looking for work experience at a local GP for 2 days over the mid term. Of my three local GP surgeries , two categorically said they don't take students for work experience, and the other surgeries' receptionist said she wasn't sure, and would contact me tomorrow.

The thing is I know one of the surgeries who said no have took students before, I don't know whether I said something wrong but they seemed quite hesitant and perhaps even slightly angry that I had the audacity to ask.
What should I do as I need experience in a GP setting.

You can get in touch with local care homes as well - they are fantastic experience and I'm sure would love someone helping out for a couple of days.

They'll be far more interested in a longer term commitment - and so will Medical Schools. 'I volunteered every Saturday for 6 months, and after getting to know patients well I began to understand the realities of dementia / end-of-life care' will always look better than 'I got in the way for 3 days'.