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Looking for work experience

Hi I’m currently in year 11 and I want to pursue medicine in the further but I’m having difficulty finding work experience. I’m located in the UK so the GP and NHS would be good choices but it’s hard to get someone to talk to as I don’t have the contacts for them. Should I just call up ever hospital and GP around my area or what should I do?

Reply 1

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Megathreads
(Please read the first post, before then posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2024 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2024 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

2025 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread


Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

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Reply 2

Original post by Sofie_209715
Hi I’m currently in year 11 and I want to pursue medicine in the further but I’m having difficulty finding work experience. I’m located in the UK so the GP and NHS would be good choices but it’s hard to get someone to talk to as I don’t have the contacts for them. Should I just call up ever hospital and GP around my area or what should I do?

It depends in which county you live and if your school is part of a widening participation list. There numerous volunteering programs for A-levels students who want to pursue a career in medicine, you can volunteer for British RedCross, local care homes, ward volunteers in hospitals etc. Some universities even organise “pathway” schemes were you attend work shops and work experience events. These pathways again are subjects to application in year 11or 12 I think, you need to check, and most of them are restricted to specific schools who have a low income postcode. Other programs are non postcode restricted. Check your local school info board, speak to a counsellor and a career advisor they probably now more as they are local to you.

Reply 3

Original post by Sofie_209715
Hi I’m currently in year 11 and I want to pursue medicine in the further but I’m having difficulty finding work experience. I’m located in the UK so the GP and NHS would be good choices but it’s hard to get someone to talk to as I don’t have the contacts for them. Should I just call up ever hospital and GP around my area or what should I do?

Hey !

This is such a great question as it is something a lot of people struggle with!

For a GP practice, you should be able to find a general email address on their website. I would recommend sending an email explaining everything including the dates you are looking at!

For hospitals, if you google the name of the hospital + undergraduate department, this will often bring up the contact details for the teaching department at that hospital !

I hope this helps,

-Rebecca, UCLan MBBS

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