We look at work experience requirements for students wishing to apply for medicine during the COVID19 pandemic.

Is relevant work experience still required for students wishing to apply to study medicine?

In order to answer this, it is best having an understanding what medical schools are looking for in prospective candidates and how work experience can help with this. The Medical School Council has indicated that medical schools should be aware of the problems of getting work experience and adapt to take this into account.

However, medical schools will still expect you to have an understanding of what a career in medicine involves. You will be expected to show that you know what it is like working as a doctor and working in a responsible role with contact with the public. These are not our words, but words from the Medical School Council in the United Kingdom.

• Medical schools still expect you to have people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.

• You have to show that you have developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a doctor such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people.

• You have to have realistic understanding of a career in medicine and in particular the physical, organisational and emotional demands of a medical career

It is difficult to see how you can demonstrate this without some form of relevant work experience, even during a pandemic.

What online work experience for aspiring medics is available?

The Medical Schools Council has two main sources of online work experience that it recommends. These are as follows: -

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School has developed a free virtual online work experience course which explores several different medical specialities. This consists of watching videos and completing mini assessments.

• The Royal College of General Practitioners has also created an interactive platform called Observe GP which highlights the many different aspects of working in primary care. It is also predominantly video based.

We would advise all aspiring medics to complete these two online courses. However, remember they do not have any face-to-face live interaction and that every student will be completing them. It is not simply enough to watch the videos but also reflect on what you have learnt. You will need to link what you have seen in the videos to the duties and qualities of a doctor and then combine this with some of your own personal experiences and qualities.

If you can do more and above what is provided online, then this is likely to be to your advantage. The requirements to demonstrate an insight into what it is like working as a doctor and show that you at least have some of the basics of the qualities required to be a doctor in your UCAS personal statement and in your medical school interview are unlikely to relaxed.

Some medical schools also in the past have asked you to complete a written piece of work in addition to your UCAS personal statement as well arrange a short presentation talking about your work experience.

Do I need to have relevant clinical experience in order to apply to medical schools?

The medical schools appear to say this is not critical. However, it is easier to demonstrate some of the qualities they require by directly observing clinical practice. In addition, the correct clinical experience will let you observe and reflect on patient care as well as see some of the challenges of being a doctor.

Traditionally students could arrange such placements in a GP practice (not the one you are registered in), a local hospice or perhaps the local hospital. We will discuss below why this is no longer possible.

Therefore, students who have such clinical experience are in our view at a significant advantage. Blue Peanut have arranged clinical work experience placements at the weekend in order to allow students to obtain the relevant experience to use in their application to medical schools.

What about work experience for aspiring medics in a voluntary capacity?

There still will likely be some opportunity for voluntary (that means unpaid) work with local charities and perhaps religious organisations such as churches and mosques. It is important to keep in focus that you are applying to medicine, so working with people, developing communications skills, perhaps showing leadership are some of qualities you should be aiming to develop.

It is entirely reasonable to undertake work experience remotely and have contact with people by telephone. Just as with clinical placements it is vital that you reflect on what you have seen and learnt. You will need to able to do this writing and communicate this in an interview.

Can I come into the GP practice for work experience?

Our own NHS GP practice does host work experience placements for students from local schools in Rossendale who aspire to study medicine. However currently it is not possible to have sixth form students in the practice during the surgery week, either in person or virtual. There are several reasons for this.

• The main concern is risk of transmission and acquiring the coronavirus. Entry to the GP surgery is currently restricted to NHS staff essential for face-to-face patient care. Most patients are seen and treated using telephone and video consultations.

• A few patients need a face-to-face in person consultation, for example if we need to undertake a clinical examination or they need a procedure, such as having blood tests, and these are seen in a dedicated ‘amber room’. This room has strict infection control procedures to minimise the risk of transmission of the coronavirus – it is disinfected thoroughly between patients. All staff are required to adhere to NHS and WHO guidelines on PPE (personal protective equipment).

• Many of our doctors and staff are also helping with the government COVID19 vaccination programme. It is all full hands-on deck for our patients and that leaves little capacity for work experience placements during the week, even on a virtual basis. Medical school training, foundation year and GP specialist (GPST) training continues with the relevant safeguards in place.

Are the weekend work experience placements through Blue Peanut still going ahead?

For those students not at our local schools, we will continue to offer live GP practice work experience placements at the weekend. There will continue to have the opportunity to see patients. However, these may still be video consultations as often the patients are unwell with multiple medical problems who are shielding at home to minimise risks of getting the coronavirus.

Following the UK government announcement that legal restrictions on social contact will be lifted from 21 June 2021, we are offering a limited number of spaces for in person work experience placements. However, these will be undertaken at COVID safe venues in Manchester and London in a simulated GP surgery environment similar to that used in professional undergraduate clinical assessments.

Virtual work experience placements will proceed as planned – students will still be able to attend these from home and have the same level of experience as in person students.

Click the link below to learn about our clinical work experience placements for aspiring medics. The photos below are from previous work experience placements pre COVID.

Where can I learn more about work experience for medicine?

Blue Peanut is hosting a free work experience session on Saturday April 3rd, 2020 at 12.00pm BST. Click the link below to learn more and book your place.