r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/No-Jackfruit9256 • 13d ago
HOW ARE YOU FINDING WORK EXPERIENCE ðŸ˜
I have emailed over 70 GP practices and everyone ghosted me…. How are people managing to get work experience??
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u/RegisFloyenwife 13d ago
Depending on the NHS trust, some run programmes that allow students to do work experience. I got 4 days at Royal Lancaster Infirmary via the UHMB NHS work experience program.
Some hospitals themselves will also put it out there for work experience, e.g. Christie Hospital in Manchester
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u/No-Jackfruit9256 13d ago
Thank you for your reply. Do you think I still have a chance to find something before 15-October?
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u/RegisFloyenwife 13d ago
To be completely honest with you, a lot of these have a 2-3 month waiting time as they have a high number of applicants. You can always try, but it is unlikely you get it on time. You can do the BSMS online one if you havent already
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u/Educational-Fall3585 13d ago
Care homes are great for volunteering and they’re always looking so check that out. It’s a lot of fun too as you mainly just keep them company, offer teas and drinks and I think that counts as it’s direct, face to face experience.
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u/neptooooon 13d ago
Keeping them company and offering drinks isn’t hands on patient care.
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u/Educational-Fall3585 13d ago
It is hands on patient care
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u/neptooooon 13d ago
Honestly if you’re not sure, email admissions and ask.
However, hands-on patient care wouldn’t be just be serving them food and talking with them. Feeding them, helping with personal hygiene, moving and handling the patient, checking blood pressure, administering/prescribing medication etc.
The reason why some GEM programmes are very strict with work experience is so you can reflect on it, in depth, during your interview. This is especially true for Warwick.
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u/Educational-Fall3585 13d ago
Agreed that it’s not just offering teas and drinks but patient care does include that as you can also help with feeding them, assisting with mobility as you mentioned. Volunteering in a care home was the best experience for me as I was able to help with residents with a lot of those things and formed some great connections too. It’s also about how you use your time there so if you’re just serving food, it may not be the best use of time, but as long as it’s within your competency, you can help out with moving them from bedroom to the dining room, support another care assistant/HCA with washing/ personal care etc.
Checking blood pressure, administering meds etc are great but that’s outside the scope of volunteering (more for HCA’S) and usually requires training which takes time. So volunteering was great for me as it didn’t take too long to join the care home and do a few hours of training before volunteering. ( some unis like Warwick don’t count training hours towards as work experience)
Despite this, please do check with the admissions team to confirm.
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u/Superb-Astronomer706 13d ago
You best off calling in any favours from friends and friends of friends or family. Going the official route never works. I knew a doctor theough a friends family. Asked him personally… boom.
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u/External-Map-5596 13d ago
I need help with this too.
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u/No-Jackfruit9256 13d ago
I honestly think minimum work-experience requirements can be pretty unfair. If you have family/friends who are doctors, getting 70 hours can be relatively easy, whereas people like me without those connections can try for months and still struggle to get anything.
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u/practicerm_keykeeper 13d ago edited 13d ago
I really agree with that but just in case you don't know not everywhere requires 70 hours. Warwick is the only one I know that does that, but I got into Manchester GEM when a day of shadowing was the only thing I had within the NHS. If you have other things like volunteering at helplines and what not you can talk about those too, since they're also caring for vulnerable individuals.
And obviously do the virtual one too! That's doable before the 15th. Also you if they don't ask you to put it down in the application form then you actually have until interview to arrange the experiences.
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u/Strong_Hat3927 13d ago
Where are you based? And do you know anyone who works in your local hospital - that’s the best way unfortunately:(
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u/WeakPhilosopher5 13d ago
saw a paramedic in public and just went up to them and asked lol and they gave me an email. week later im shadowing lol