Work Experience

well, im finding it really hard to get work experience in the hospital. i know that its not essential but i also know that it is desirable.

i live in Newport, South Wales. i tried the Royal Gwent Hospital, St Woolos, Nevielle Hall Hospital, Heath hospital in Cardiff but i was faced with flat No's saying that everything was on hold. im over 18 and i had a CRB check done, i dont understand what is their problem.

im just wondering if anyone knows if there is anything available in the area or can help in any way.i dont mind travelling as far as Bristol.

thanx in advance

Reply 1

Becca-Sarah

19

Depends when you asked for work exp. If you wrote recently asking for w.e. this summer, I'm not surprised they said no. How did you apply for work exp? Through HR? Through a specific consultant? HR can't be arsed, in my experience, to organise anything off their own backs. If you can get a consultant to say you can shadow them, then ask HR for permission, it's easier. My local hospital HR refused to organise work exp, stating that 'doctors were too busy to put up with students' despite the fact that three consultants had already said I could shadow them, and they'd told bithc-from-HR that too.

How exactly did you phrase your request? Was it simply 'can I do work exp here?', cos being a little more specific may help. State a department or two that you'd really like to see. Say why you want to do work exp in that department. Display a basic knowledge of what goes on there. A mini-personal statement incorporated into your letter wouldn't harm your chances. Just a little paragraph on why you want to be a doctor, etc.

Reply 2

m197

OP

11

i called and said "can i speak to someone regarding work experience?" and i was transfered. i said "im hoping to apply to study medicine in September and was told earlier that you only take students who are actually doing their A-levels. I'm currently at ---- school doing A-levels in---" so the lady asked me to send a letter and so i did.

{{{Further to our phone call on --------, I am writing to you regarding work experience at ---------.

I have finished my GCSE and Welsh Baccalaureate course at Coleg Gwent, City of Newport Campus and achieved 6 A*, an A and a B and Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate diploma (equivalent to 4 GCSE’s A*-C). I joined St Julian’s School sixth form last September, as it is closer to where I live and allows me to accompany my sister. I am currently studying 5 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Arabic and French. I am predicted AAAAA for the AS examinations.

I have always wanted to pursue a career in medicine. I have worked in a pharmacy for a week and this gave me valuable experience in communication, handling money and understanding the British medical system. I am currently a volunteer in The Leonard Cheshire Home, a nursing home for the disabled. This is very useful, as it shows me how to understand the needs of disabled people of different ages. I would like to mention that I had to be CRB checked for that job. Volunteering at BAWSO women’s aid for BME women who suffer from domestic violence has taught me how to be empathising and help troubled women. I worked with my local MP for a week and gained experience in dealing with people and administrative work relevant to politics. I have attended courses in first aid, and health & safety in the work place which were very relevant to my current studies and to what I want to do in future. I am a member of the link up program which increases participation of BME youth in decision making by funding events organised by us. In school I'm an active member of the sixth form. I'm currently raising money for charity in school and with a group of other students who are raising money, we are setting up a charity council to help us all reach our targets. I also enjoy swimming, martial arts, photography and film making as useful past times.

I would like to arrange work experience in the Cardiology department as this would help put the knowledge I gained from my studies in practice and witness the work of doctors and health professionals. It would also give me an insight into a career I have always wanted to engage in.}}}

and they replied saying everything is on hold at the moment. the careers service (sorry to say that) but they are rubbish and when i say rubbish i mean rubbish. they gave me a contact number and it turned out to be the same person i contacted!! so im soooooooooooo desperate now. i just need anything mediciny to put on my statement and i dont want to miss out on the experience itself either.

Reply 3

glenn22

omg i live in newport as well! in south wales and wanna do medicine as well! lol

i kno finding work experience is so hard! lol n im onli 17 so cnt drive yet! lol

and they cancelled our schools work experience as well! lol gutted i kno!
but i got some in the heath, some other ppl in my year tried bridgend?

Reply 4

Future Doc

13

Try volunteering at the hospital or in a caring setting. A longtime placement can replace one week of work experience.

Reply 5

Becca-Sarah

19

Try GP's. It's good medical experience; they often have more time to talk through what they're doing and some have foundation doctors and GP reg's that you can talk to about the current system and stuff.

Reply 6

Philosoraptor

18

You're not just doing medicine because of the family pressure thing are you?

Reply 7

m197

OP

11

no i looooove medicine my family would rather me do pharmacy. u know the fact that girls will find it hard later juggling family and a life in med but i dont mind that. i want to do medcine because i like it and thats where i see myself successful

Reply 8

devilschild

2

I found that for hospital shadowing the department that are meant to sort out work experience placements just told me they are very busy at the moment and that it's hard to take on many students and after several weeks I haven't heard from them again (I'm 21 and CRB checked). So I went on the hospital website and looked at the consultant directory (this is for milton keynes general), then looked at several areas that really interested me. I then just wrote a letter to particular consultants (making sure it was personal and said why I'm interested in their particular area) and sent off my CV with it and had 2/5 doctors get back to me and say I could shadow them. So I think that's the best way to sort it as by writing to a named doctor they will feel obliged to personally get back to you. I shadowed a sexual health doctor the other day and it was actually really interesting, I imagine not too many students will ask for work experience in a sexual health clinic so maybe a department like that would also be a good idea to write to as they won't be so oversubscribed.

Reply 9

graemematt

12

It's usually only possible to get work experience in a hospital if you know someone (a doctor or nurse) who can help you out, I'm afraid. Write a letter to the postgraduate tutor at your hospitals directly (find out his/her name) and see if they can help. If not, dont worry, do something else! Your work at a home sounds useful, and I'd reocmmend getting work at your local hospice, it's more hands-on interacting than being in a hospital :smile:

Reply 10

work_til_failure

2

Im having the same problem...despite living 30 seconds from a hospital, and applying a dozen times, i cant seem to get any work experience there :frown:

...and its not like theres any medical students here :mad:

I also get the impression that HR just cant be assed wiv sorting anything out.

Reply 11

Creative

10

If anyone's willing to do work exp in East London at Queen's/King George's Hospitals.. which are rather new & give the impression of a massive shopping mall.. then you should get in touch with the HR dept at BHR Hospitals ( google that :P ), or you can email [email protected].. this HR dept was very co-operative in comparison with other hospitals which I would love to name & shame, but I'm a nice guy. I did that and got 3 weeks w/exp, she gave me the names of various consultants and you just insert their name into the e-mail, or phone them.. about 10 of them were willing to give me w/exp.

That being said, I did the w/exp, and did enjoy it ( got to see lots of surgical procedures and talk with lots of registrars, med-students.. ward rounds also ) but it stopped me from applying for Medicine, and now.. quite frankly, I don't understand why anybody would consider being a doctor :biggrin:

But don't let that put you off!

The whole process takes about 2 months to organise.. references/checks etc, but all the postal work is dealt with very fast with their HR dept.

Just thought I'd post this :cool:

Reply 12

aminalia89

13

Creative

If anyone's willing to do work exp in East London at Queen's/King George's Hospitals.. which are rather new & give the impression of a massive shopping mall.. then you should get in touch with the HR dept at BHR Hospitals ( google that :P ), or you can email [email protected].. this HR dept was very co-operative in comparison with other hospitals which I would love to name & shame, but I'm a nice guy. I did that and got 3 weeks w/exp, she gave me the names of various consultants and you just insert their name into the e-mail, or phone them.. about 10 of them were willing to give me w/exp.

That being said, I did the w/exp, and did enjoy it ( got to see lots of surgical procedures and talk with lots of registrars, med-students.. ward rounds also ) but it stopped me from applying for Medicine, and now.. quite frankly, I don't understand why anybody would consider being a doctor :biggrin:

But don't let that put you off!

The whole process takes about 2 months to organise.. references/checks etc, but all the postal work is dealt with very fast with their HR dept.

Just thought I'd post this :cool:

why weren't you this helpful when i was looking for work experience!!! :p:

nah just putting you on the spot. :biggrin:

Reply 13

iolaus

6

I've seen people on work experience in the Royal Glamorgan (Llantrisant) that may be an option for you if not too far.

Reply 14

m197

OP

11

well North Glamorgan said they are oversubscribed and have a waiting list. east london is a difficult option and takes too long to organise.

im just soooooooooooooo peed off with the attitude of the hr dept here. they said i was too young when i was in Yr11, and when started Yr12 they said they can offer something in May, and when it came to May they said they postponed it to end of october. and when i told the lady that its too late she said: "well at least u can say that u have arranged something for so n so date"

is that good enough? i think that would reflect bad on me meaning that i didnt approach them early enough and left everything to the last minute.therefore im a lazy, disorganised person.

the only people i know in the NHS are my dad's cousin, who is not that nice and dout that he would help, and a friend of my dad who is not a consultant but he is looking into the matter. so chances are quite low.

Reply 15

devilschild

2

Yes it would be fine to do the work experience after you've applied but just mention on your PS that you've arranged some and they'll prob ask you about it at interview. To add to other peoples comments I found the milton keynes post grad department were really helpful (for any of you applying for post grad med) and have given me a 3 day placement just 3 weeks after I initially wrote to them. Banbury on the other hand are not taking anyone for shadowing until next year so it really isn't worth asking them unless you know someone there.

Reply 16

arpeggio

12

If anyone wants I have the contact details of the work experience/voluntary work co-ordinator at my local hospital in Colchester and they'd probably be happy to organise something for you. I also have contact details for the GP's I did work experience at - I don't think they'd taken on work exp students before but they were happy to have me (even though I wasn't actually allowed to see anything much because of confidentiality!)

(I know Essex is a bit out of the way from most places, but it's about an hour's train ride from North East London so if anyone's really desperate it could be an option...)

Reply 17

Becca-Sarah

19

Your contact in the hospital doesn't have to be anyone high up. I got a total of four weeks work exp through a lovely physio who just hassled every consultant she came across until they agreed to take me.