Clinical Work Experience For Medical School Application

[HamsterOnWheels]

I wonder if anyone can give me some guidance. My DC is applying for medicine this year. They are really struggling to get any work experience in a medical setting. My DC has lots of general volunteering experience (e.g. long term volunteering with vulnerable people) but is finding it impossible to get any work shadowing in a medical setting. We have tried all local hospitals, GPs etc. I have heard people say that it is less important in Covid times but some of my DC's peers at school with medic parents seem to have been able to access it. I would be very grateful if anyone has any alternative suggestions we may have overlooked.

Has she looked for virtual work experience schemes, like this?

www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/work-with-us/work-experience

My DC did things like St John Ambulance, volunteering in a care home, soup kitchen and special school, mountain rescue and helped care for a housebound neighbour. Work experience doesn't have to just have to be in a medical setting to be relevant. Those experiences helped them develop relevant skills and insights. I believe St George's, who had the most stringent requirements for work experience pre-COVID, also considered Guides/Scouts to count towards their required hours, although I understand they have dropped the requirements since COVID.

It’s really hard to get places in large organisations due to privacy / data protection issues. My daughter wanted to do child nursing and she was lucky enough to get a volunteer place with a local childminder who also did social services weekend respite care for disabled . My daughter worked on a 1 to 1 basis with a disabled child and a blind child. She felt this was a real bonus to her CV and statement . She learnt a lot from it . She is now a paediatric nurse .