Career Break Internships

Internship Medicine

Why a medical placement?

With the General Medical Council’s ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ report highlighting the need for wider access to the medical profession, and experience and maturity in the doctors of the future, many people with established careers are considering changing tack, and becoming a doctor.

If this is something you’re interested in, a medical placement could help you work out if it is right for you, and even if you decide against it, your time as a medical volunteer will be hugely important. You will be providing invaluable help in often understaffed hospitals alongside overworked health professionals who have to deal with anything from day to day illnesses to tropical diseases rarely seen in the West, like yellow fever, leprosy and landmine/war injuries.

You will also have the chance to learn about the traditional medicines of the country you visit, for example, in India, you could study the ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine.

What will you be doing?

During your placement you will spend several months shadowing doctors in a major hospital, in the country of your choice. Usually, you will take on an observatory role and closely follow a doctor in various different departments for roughly a fortnight each. For example, you might spend some time on a maternity ward, then at a local clinic, then in Accident and Emergency. In many places, however, once trust has been established between the volunteer and the doctor, more involved opportunities may arise. Asking questions and showing initiative are highly encouraged.

Other types of placement

Don’t want to be a doctor, but still want to volunteer? Planning a career change into healthcare, not clinical medicine? Don’t worry – there are plenty of other related placements you could take part in. Physiotherapy, dentistry, occupational therapy, nursing and midwifery are all offered in a similar way to medical placements, so check with your gap company.