how much time do you spend at each location?

**mumwantstobeamedic** · 10-07-2007, 01:39 PM

Hi guys,

I came up for the open day which was very helpful but failed to get my head around how long you spend at each location each year. MY husband and I loved Keele and thought it would be a great place to bring up our baby so I am thinking of applying to both the four and five year courses but I am wondering how many days/weeks/months of commuting I will do throughout and how far it will be.

Thanks for the advice people have given so far...

**Tiny** · 10-07-2007, 04:28 PM

What do you mean at each location??? Do you mean at Shrewsbury? Keele and then the City General Hospital?

**Tiny** · 15-07-2007, 12:06 AM

Well one thing is for certain..there are several hospitals they use..whether district generals like Stafford, Telford and Shrewsbury or wayward GP practices like Waterhouse (how bloody far away and in the middle of nowhere was that??). As for requests..I wouldn't do that as it makes enemies very early on in your medical career. Their answer will be..well, we made you an offer on the basis that you agreed to travel where required. OK they can accomodate here and there...but NOT for the whole 5 years. Sometimes..especially in 4th year, there are just too many firms and placements to make any special arrangements as it will buggger other people over.

**crog80** · 15-07-2007, 02:51 AM

However, if you let them know you have a small child, then I don't see why they won't try and accomodate your needs. People could have got out of going to Shrewsbury in my year, if they had a legitimate reason.

**zub2star** · 15-07-2007, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by crog80

People could have got out of going to Shrewsbury in my year, if they had a legitimate reason.

Yeh, but they were being completely harsh about it- from what i hear it was incredibly difficuclt even if u had family reasons. I dont know of anyone in our year whon got out of it? Maybe I might have missed someone but i bet it wasnt easy reagardless of however legiitmate the reason was.The msg ppl who tried to change their decission got is that they knew of the procedures/options when they applied...

**mumwantstobeamedic** · 15-07-2007, 08:07 PM

What I mean is how many weeks per year are you off Keele Campus for? Is it the whole of some years or just parts of them?

**Tiny** · 16-07-2007, 02:21 AM

Oh right...well in the new curriculum..it's on and off..so no guarantees in the first 2 years. After that, years 3 4 5 are purely off campus. Some 4 week placements in a DGH and community environment..and then an 11 week project in year 4.

Craig....you may have a legitimate reason...but like Zub and i said before...their argument is that you knew of the commitments before medical school. Also...you know from your year how much hassle has been caused to people who complained about going to Shrewsbury for one semester.

**mumwantstobeamedic** · 21-07-2007, 07:37 PM

Thanks for the replies so far. There is a big difference between being off campus in Stoke and in Stafford or Shrewsbury etc. Can anyone give me an idea of when you are in Stoke and when further. Also can you ever travel by train or do you need to go by car? I am going to have to relocate if I get a place so big decisions to make.

**Tiny** · 22-07-2007, 03:45 AM

Well currently (a different curriculum to you guys), you have to do one of your 4 semesters from years 3 and 4 in Shrewsbury (about 13 weeks). On top of this, one of your SSC's (4 in years 3 and 4 in total) have to be in a DGH, such as Telford and Shrewsbury (for 4 weeks). Now you also have GP placements which are once a week throughout years 3 and 4, which can be anywhere really..worse case scenario is Waterhouse, which is about 1hr drive away from Keele.

Your curriculum will mean that the clinical aspect can be anywhere. and that includes the City General in Stoke or a DGH.

Your best bet really is to relocate to Stoke. It's not worth the hassle etc in my opinion. It will affect your studies, and in clinicals when sometimes we needed to be in for 8am...you really want to be able to get up 7 and not 5am. If you have retakes...that buggers your summer up to. So you need to weigh up these pros and cons. Hope this helps

**thinkerbelle** · 22-07-2007, 11:33 PM

is shrewsbury absolutely compulsory?? this sounds like a nightmare, i do appreciate that it is made aware when you apply you may have to travel further afield however as keele was my only offer and other than leaving my children, i can not relocate and i will be commuting from manchester most days...i hope to god that they are not as unaccomodating as they sound from this forum.