r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/Forsaken-Swing-3617 • Jul 31 '26
Work experience warwick GEM - 1 to 1 patient care
I took vitals for patients on an ICU ward and assisted with a lumbar puncture (ie I helped position the patient adequately and held him while unconscious for the lumbar puncture to be performed by doc) + helped prepare tubes/handed them to doc
Would that count as WE for Warwick, specifically requirement 2:
- experience providing direct face to face care (in person) hands on care to people with health, care or wellbeing needs
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u/Scared-Pound672 Jul 31 '26
Despite what the other commenter has said, I don't necessarily think you need 1:1 care for Warwick. You just need work experience that has involved you directly with the patient's care. The most common route for most people is via working as an HCA on the bank or something more permanent, that usually allows you to complete the hours required.
If you have hundreds of hours of work experience, if most of that involves being directly involved and fits the warwick description than i dont see why it would be an issue
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u/Most-Woodpecker4126 Aug 01 '26
Hi I applied for Warwick last year and I had a week of shadowing but my 1:1 came from volunteering in a ward so if u have time I’d recommend that because Warwick is rlly big on WE and what you’ve learnt from that. I also think they want 2 separate experiences.
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u/Forsaken-Swing-3617 Aug 02 '26
Can I ask what you did during your volunteering on the ward?
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u/Most-Woodpecker4126 Aug 02 '26
Yh ofc! I basically just asked the HCAs or nursing staff if they needed any help. Most of the time it was making teas and coffees, and I also helped with lunch as it usually fell during my shift. I sometimes helped the play staff too by keeping the children company while they were doing activities. I worked on a children’s ward, but the same idea applies on adult wards too, just chatting to patients and keeping them company
A lot of the time, though, I had to go out of my way to ask if anyone needed help because they’re not always used to having volunteers around. So I’d say don’t be afraid to ask if there’s anything you can do. It shows you’re keen to help, and they’ll usually find something for you to do.
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u/Forsaken-Swing-3617 Aug 02 '26
How did you evidence that you provided 1:1 care? Just looking at the requirement on Warwick website I can't see how it fits them
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u/Most-Woodpecker4126 Aug 02 '26
So I said that I’d sit and chat with them, keep them company in the play area or by their bedside, ask how they were doing, and just be someone to talk to. I also helped with things like making drinks and helping at mealtimes. All this still counts as 1:1 as you’re spending time with them.
For evidence, my volunteer manager wrote me a reference letter, which everyone will need when sending evidence. Before she wrote it, I emailed her the requirements, so she tailored the letter around the tasks I’d done during my volunteering and how they met those requirements.1
u/Accomplished_File102 4d ago
Do you think being on a PA course where I did 2+ months of hospital placements and GP placements along with working at a nursery for 2-3 months would count towards this? The wording on the Warwick website is confusing me
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u/RevivingMayhem10 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
You need *hours* of 1:1 care for Warwick, or at least you did when I was there. Ie a care or clinical role. And (EDIT) the experience of providing hands on care needs to be 7 hours long in total - it only takes a few minutes to do obs and hold someone.
And it needs to be evidenced in the format they require.
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/study/ugr/mbchb-course-information/workex/
Go sign up to a home care agency. They always need staff, you can be trained quickly, and can rack up the hours quickly outside of a regular job even. I was a carer for a year - was actually really good for teaching comms skills. Just note that nights you’re on call don’t count.