Urgent work experience help needed. Posting for traffic.

[MsHooliesCardigan]

DS1 is just finishing his first year of A levels and is doing maths and science subjects with a view to doing something bio-medical. He needs to find a work experience placement for a week towards the end of July. The idea is that it is something related to the job or degree they plan to do and he did his Y10 placement in a GP surgery.
However, he's having absolutely no joy and is getting really despondent. All the hospitals have said No or not got back to him - he started trying about 2 months ago.
Pharmacies have all said No because he's under 18.
He has started phoning GP surgeries and they have said No due to lack of staff or that they used to offer work experience and have stopped recently.
To anyone who works in a GP practice, is it still a thing to take WE students?
Has anyone got any bright ideas about who he can approach? We're in London.
The school are beginning to absolutely hound him about it. Whilst I understand that it's a good thing for students to organise their own placements, I do think the school could do something to help him as his lack of success clearly isn't due to lack of trying.
Thanks.

People on medicine forums suggest care home experience. This may be easier to get?

What about a vet or animal sanctuary? A different kind of medical experience.

We emailed any consultants' secreatiowe had ever come across, particularly that if he man who took out my son's tonsils privately as the NHS could do it before his A levels. We had also been involved in a vaccine trial years ago and emailed that group. Just thinking aloud here in case it sparks ideas.

Working as a volunteer carer would show that he understands the complexities of prescribing for elderly people. He wouldn't be giving the drugs out obviously, but could talk about his observations and conversations with doctors and nurses about drugs at the care home.

Try a large veterinary practice or a food technology lab.

What about a military medical setting? They may welcome volunteers/work experience - contact your local armed forces career place or drop them an email from the website.

(They will definitely try and recruit him if they agree so prepare him for the sales pitch).

Care homes
Volunteer work at a local, independent pharmacy
Volunteer work at the red cross

Medically related charity, like the King's Fund or something? Cancer Research UK or similar?

One of the universities - lab work or something?
Blue Cross/PDSA type setting?

Thanks for the suggestions, it's very helpful. He has tried a number of community pharmacies, including Boots, who all said they couldn't take anyone under 18. I don't know if it's to do with insurance. I will definitely look at care homes. I think older ppeople would love him although obviously I'm biased

Military bases will be a no no, as will prisons as he would need vetting and he is under age. I would defo go down the carw home route or speak to local hositals about ward volunteering

Has he tried any private practises or places that offer sports rehabilitation/chiropractors even dentists etc?It's not directly in his field but still good experience. Or research labs, St. John's ambulance, air amubulance? care homes or centres that look after people with disabilities? It's not all directly linked but any type of care work/voluntary work will help

Any large local companies that might have medical departments? BMA? May also be worth looking at testing or pharmaceutical companies.

Unfortunately to get placements in hospitals you need to apply well ahead of time. Dss did Gp in yr 11 but applied for hospital at same time for a placement the following summer. He volunteered in a care home thoughout the year.

IF you are in Zlondon how would the school feel about him volunteering down in North Ken sorting out the donations for Grenfell Tower.

Where abouts are you based? I am a schools careers advisor with an NHS contact who assists with placing students for WE. I could ask her dependant on your location or see if she could advise best route?

Knackered I am in SE London but he would be happy to travel as it's only for a week. I have phoned the Leonard Cheshire foundation home that I visited as a student nurse and they sounded quite hopeful and asked me to ring back tomorrow when the manager is there. He has until Friday to get it sorted which means he has to get his form signed by then so it's really cutting it fine.

Have you tried opticians? Because they are a retail crossover I've found them more likely to take work experience.

Take a look at this company (based near Harley St I think): tdlpathology.com/

They're huge so it's possible one dept may have capacity for we. It's the kind of thing that looks good to shareholders / in company newsletters, so you never know...

None of us in my NHS department or any of our colleagues take work experience mainly because of patient confidentiality.

Try vinspired or do it volunteering. Both excellent and specific to areas.

I really am so grateful to those of you that have replied. Thank you so much.

Could he do work experience in a HE environment in a lab? I work in neuroscience and we often give UG students work placements over the summer. It might be a bit late to get something sorted though - most HE academics will be head down in publication prep right now.

I can offer him work experience in a medical centre of a special school in South London? There's not a doctor based there full time but he can spend time with the nurses and get to see lots of medical interventions with children who have complex needs??

As pp have suggested, work experience in a university lab would be ideal. I work in a biology lab (north of England so sorry can't help personally) but I've had a number of A-level students work shadow, as have my colleagues. Try looking on the University webpages to see if any area of research particularly appeals to him and then contact the relevant researcher or one of their staff direct. And don't be afraid to ask, I personally enjoy students work shadowing and it's nice to feel like you are helping them at the start of their career journey. Best of luck