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Shadowing Schemes

14

Hey i have done mainly voulenteering work, but i want to do doctor shadowing or somthing similar to that. I wanted to ask people who have or are going to do medical shadowing how they got onto there scheme because im finding it hard trying to get one. Thank you.

Reply 1

Helenia

20

I didn't get onto a specific "scheme" - do they exist?

I had quite a hard time - I sent at least 3 separate copies of my CV to one hospital, and they did nothing. Another one was booked up for months in advance, especially in holidays. Another one only took students from schools in Wolverhampton (which I wasn't). I just kept ringing up HR departments and asking until I found one. You won't be the first one to ask, so don't be afraid. Phone calls are better than letters/e-mails - they're harder to ignore!

Reply 2

xsbrx

8

i had a 'scheme' whereby someone from the hospital sent forms to local schools for potential medics. Out of it, we got 4 days shadowing theatre/various clinics in the hospital (it was so good :biggrin:

). it was heavily over-subscribed though, we were told there were about 20 people for a place (more competitive than med school :rolleyes:

) so you have to be quick to apply. maybe ring up hospitals in your area and ask if they have any such schemes?

to shadow a GP - ring round your nearest surgeries (better to ring than e-mail....a more direct response!) or if you have any family contacts use them!

Reply 3

ExitMusic

9

Helenia

...Phone calls are better than letters/e-mails - they're harder to ignore!

Unless you're that busy secretary who forwards you through to Paul in Training and Development, who then puts you on hold for 20 minutes to Jane in the Careers department who then puts you through to Dr Carrol in the Radiology department, who then puts you on hold to be transferred by the switchboard to...Sue, the secretary.

I had a hard time ;no;

Reply 4

Ribbons

12

If you have a careers advisor at school/college, why not ask them to help you out? Thats what I did, and applied through the (careers) website..I got one of the four placements I had applied for

Reply 5

Helenia

20

Optimistic

Unless you're that busy secretary who forwards you through to Paul in Training and Development, who then puts you on hold for 20 minutes to Jane in the Careers department who then puts you through to Dr Carrol in the Radiology department, who then puts you on hold to be transferred by the switchboard to...Sue, the secretary.

I had a hard time ;no;

Oh yes, some of them are stupid. But phone calls (if you get the right people) are harder to ignore/bin than e-mails or letters. I sent 3 CVs to the same hospital at various points and never heard back from them.

Reply 6

xxaimeexx

Do you have to send off a cv with your work experience letters? Im only 15 but i want to see if i can get some work experience next summer when im 16 will i need to send off a cv now?

Reply 7

*Liana*

1

I sent letters to a number of consultants at my nearest DGH and got responses from two of them. Chances are, it seems, if you ask enough people you will eventually get something. However, if you're applying this year phonecalls may be the way to go to get something arranged quickly.

Sort of going off on a general work exp thing: in my area the person who coordinates volunteering is the same person who does the work experience stuff. When I did work exp in Year 10 I remember also addressing letters to the 'Work Experience Coordinator' of various hospitals, which seemed to get a response.

Aimeem - I didn't send a CV, I just wrote a letter explaining who I was and what I wanted. I don't think you'd need to send off something now, though, a bit closer to the time is better (I'm talking about a few months in advance here - a year is a probably too long but it's wise to start looking early to ensure you get something for the summer hols).

Reply 8

Helenia

20

There's little point sending a CV if you have nothing to put on it, just send a normal letter as Liana described.

Reply 9

pkonline

8

As others have mentioned already, try asking at school to see if they've been sent any details of schemes. Try asking the local university too - thats how I got mine as it was the uni that arrange the experience.

In saying that, shadowing does have it's limits, and I wouldn't worry too much about it. You already got some good volunteer work so that shoudl stand you in good stead :smile:

!

Reply 10

Leisure17

8

If you speak another language apart from English why not go abroad? In Germany it is hardly ever a problem to be taken on as a "Praktikant" (person who has not started studying yet) or as a "Famulus" (for medical students). I don't know about other countries, but maybe someone else her does.

Reply 11

Liar

12

I need to go to my local hospital on monday to discuss getting work experience there. The problem is that i need to bring a CV. I don't have a CV so what the hell do i put on one?

Reply 12

Excalibur

15

Liar

I need to go to my local hospital on monday to discuss getting work experience there. The problem is that i need to bring a CV. I don't have a CV so what the hell do i put on one?

GCSE grades, AS level predicted grades, work experience/paid work, skills, interests, reference, and all that jazz :wink:

Reply 13

-42-

1

Hey there,

I'm 16, post-GCSE student who wants to do medicine and at the moment I've almost finished my first week of medical work experience shadowing doctors in Oxford. (I have also got a second week lined up at the end of the holidays).

I actually didn't go through the normal (and long/difficult!) way of getting a placement. Via my mum (who is a nurse at the John Radcliffe in Oxford) I managed to get names of consultants who would be happy to take work experience students - then I'd contact the consultant themself to ask them if I can do work shadowing. If you write a nice e-mail or letter with a bit about yourself/can find the dates then I'm sure they'll accept you!

You then just need to fill out the right forms with the hospital - but because the consultant or whoever has already agreed with you, there's not much the hospitals voluntary services team can do to stop you...!

So basically I found this to be a great, simple, hassle free way of getting some placements. I guess I'm lucky that my mum is a nurse and knew some of the right people, however if you have any friends parents who are in the medical profession etc. or know any good contacts then I would try out talking directly to the person you want to shadow!

Good luck,

--42

Reply 14

Liar

12

GCSE grades, AS level predicted grades

I've only just done my GCSEs so i'm guessing i just put those predictions down :wink:

Reply 15

crazygirl4521

OP

14

-42-

Hey there,

I'm 16, post-GCSE student who wants to do medicine and at the moment I've almost finished my first week of medical work experience shadowing doctors in Oxford. (I have also got a second week lined up at the end of the holidays).

I actually didn't go through the normal (and long/difficult!) way of getting a placement. Via my mum (who is a nurse at the John Radcliffe in Oxford) I managed to get names of consultants who would be happy to take work experience students - then I'd contact the consultant themself to ask them if I can do work shadowing. If you write a nice e-mail or letter with a bit about yourself/can find the dates then I'm sure they'll accept you!

You then just need to fill out the right forms with the hospital - but because the consultant or whoever has already agreed with you, there's not much the hospitals voluntary services team can do to stop you...!

So basically I found this to be a great, simple, hassle free way of getting some placements. I guess I'm lucky that my mum is a nurse and knew some of the right people, however if you have any friends parents who are in the medical profession etc. or know any good contacts then I would try out talking directly to the person you want to shadow!

Good luck,

--42

Thanx i will do that.

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