Actually possible to get work experience?

Is it? Every hospital I go to or person I speak to I get bumped from person to person for weeks before being told its not actually possible. Or I think I'm finally getting somewhere and the person stops replying to e-mails and doesn't seem to even exist at the hospital.
What the hell has everybody else done cause it seems to be otherwise impossible to actually get a place anywhere!

Reply 1

crazygirl4521

That happend to me, try a local GP thats what i am doing. Other people get Work experience, through placement schemes and their schools.

Reply 2

*Princess*

ye people dont ussually respond to letters cos theyre too busy or lazy try phoning in instead

Reply 3

xsbrx

Aww be persistant! Something will come through eventually. And I can't stress enough how important it is to ask the person face-to-face/over the phone. Harder to say no that way :P

Also, like people have said, it isn't essential to get experience in a hospital. Unis are well aware how difficult it is, unless you can get yourself into a hospital shadowing scheme of some sort (I got onto one, although there were 20 applicants per place!). Definately try GP's in your area, this will also be very useful experience, as it's nice to have a one-on-one chat with a doctor, which is harder to do if they're running around theatre!

Good luck :smile:

Reply 4

Quick_Silver

Thanks guys.

You got to shadow? I keep getting told some new BMA ru;es make it forbidden now. Damn lying doctors!!!!

Reply 5

angelpie

I am applying for dentistry this year and I found work experience in a private dentist surgery near Harley street on Wimpole street by looking up and calling dentists in the yellow pages, i then later asked the college to confirm it for me. Your best bet is to seek out private clinics because NHS clinics and hospitals do not have much of a budget to take on what they may see as a liability due to insurance. Private clinics also have a much smaller clientele and so wont be as rushed off their feet. Good luck and make sure you call them, not contact them by email.

Reply 6

mk118

Yeah, i'd echo what the others are sayin in that you should be persistant, but i'd differ in that i'd write a bunch of letters instead of phone calls.

Firstly this means they/you have physical proof of any communications and secondly you can follow it up with a phone call after. You have more time and more room to fit everythin into a letter than you would a brief phone call.

Through this approach i've managed to get voluntary work at a nursing home where ive sinced been taught/trained in several different aspects to do with dementia, been on trips out with the residents to places i normally wouldnt go and also been offered paid work as a carer.

All the best.

mk

Reply 7

xsbrx

Quick_Silver

Thanks guys.

You got to shadow? I keep getting told some new BMA ru;es make it forbidden now. Damn lying doctors!!!!

Do you mean shadowing in the hospital or GP surgery? I'm not sure, rules may have changed since last summer when i did it! Also, a lot of GP surgeries refused me at first saying they didn't have a 'licence' to have a student in the room.