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MedStart work experience programme is back

Avatar of instruction in suturing techniques. Image shows two young people sitting at a table, with two older students watching on. The young people are attempting suturing stitches and are wearing blue surgical gloves. Everyone is wearing a face mas

Published on 8 April 2022

Students had a taste of life as a junior doctor in the first work experience sessions held at East Kent Hospitals for two years.

The popular MedStart programme had to be paused due to the coronavirus pandemic but staff welcomed dozens of school pupils to the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital and William Harvey Hospital this month.

They were able to try their hand at clinical skills including suturing, keyhole surgery, taking blood, x-rays and physical examinations.

Dover Grammar School for Boys student Beau Wakefield, 15, said it was a useful experience.

He added: “Learning how to take blood was my favourite session but I have enjoyed everything I have done so far.

“I haven’t yet decided which field of medicine I want to go into – potentially mental health, cardiovascular or endocrinology.

“Becoming a doctor has been my ambition for quite a while and I think it will be a really rewarding career.”

Fern Arnold, 17, who attends Dover Grammar School for Girls, said she relished the opportunity to attend the sessions in person.

She said: “It has been a fantastic day and the activities on offer are things you can’t really experience on a webinar.

“I would definitely recommend it to other people who are considering medicine as a career.”

Other sessions included advice on applying to medical school, the opportunity to question pretend patients and discuss treatment plans, and a chance to ask questions of current medical students.

Dr Ciaran Crowe, clinical associate director of medical education, said the team was delighted to be able to welcome students back for the taster days.

He said: “These taster days offer a great insight into what a career in medicine involves.

“Our medical students act as mentors for the day, giving the young people their personal experiences, and the skills sessions are always popular.

“It was fantastic to meet so many students who were so passionate about their future careers and I hope we will welcome some of them back as junior doctors in the future.”

For more information on the MedStart work experience programme, visit https://meded.ekhuft.nhs.uk/study-and-train/medstart4u/

Fern Arnold tries some laporascopic surgery. Image shows a female student operaitng hand controls of instruments to reposition items in a box. We can see what is in the box on a screen in front of her.