Work Experience for Medicine

[Nathaniel]

I am in yr 11 and want to go on to a career in medicine and have read from various sources that it is imperative that you have work experience (both for your university application and for the experience of seeing what you are getting yourself into). As I am going to finsih my exams in a couple of months (June 23rd - can't wait!!) I was thinking that I could do some during the ten week summer break that I then have. I was wondering what process I would go through in order to get some, do I just phone up and ask? Also where is the best place to do it? Could comeone please give me some advice

[Bex x]

Old people's homes are the best idea - just write to a few and ask nicely. Also a week on a hospital ward and one in a GP surgery could be helpful. Same process again. You will probably (if you are like me) learn most about people in the nursing home and most aboput doctors in the hospital. I found the GP surgery bit quite unhelpful, especially as I spent nearly all my time with the nurses - it did teach me that I don't really mind the smell of burning flesh, though. Just write to them - some may not seem keen (You can be persistent - I was and it paid off) but some, esp. the homes, will be keen to have unpaid labour for a week or two. You may even be able to get a summer job in a care home - I did in between GCSE's and A-levels. If you find somewhere really small they are likely to be less fussy about age laws.
Hope this helps! Good luck with your application!