Advice on work experience for medical school

[5Foot5]

I don't know whether this really falls in to the topic of Secondary Education but I was hoping someone on here would have some previous experience and could advise.

DD is in Y11 and just finishing her GCSEs. Her ambition is to study medicine. Next year she will be starting A levels in Maths, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.

We have read that it is essential that she gets some relevant work experience before applying for medicine otherwise the medical schools won't even consider her.

In Y10 when they had to do some work experience she managed to get 3 days working on a ward in the local hospital so she only has a teeny bit so far. In the Sixth Form I think they get one afternoon a week (or a fortnight?) to do voluntary work so we are hoping she can arrange something in that time. In the meantime she has her last GCSE in mid-June and I suggested that it might be a good idea to use some of her free time after that to try to get a bit more work experience.

My question to anyone whose DCs have been in a similar situation is:

a) Roughly how much time are they expected to clock up?
b) How are they meant to prove or document this? Will it be enough if she keeps her own diary or accoujnt of what she has done or will medical schools expect some more formal report or references from where she has been or something?

Thanks

Hello 5Foot5
My son went on the medllink course at Nottingham Uni, which seems to be what most students considering medicine as a career do.
He did a weeks experience at our local city hospital, I found a contact name for him and he arranged the rest. He also worked for about an hour a week in an old people's home for about 6 weeks.
He didn't have to prove any of it. They didn't ask about any of it.
He didn't do D of E , hasn't got grade 8 in the violin or any other instrument ..... all those things people told him he must have!
At his interview they were more interested in his band and his bass playing than anything else!. Think it showed the fun side in him. He got an offer.

Thanks winniemum we have never heard of medilink. At what age is this aimed at post Y11, Y12? The most up-to-date website appears to be not running for me at the moment.

Hi, my friend is a GP, when she was in the sixth form she did work in care homes in the holidays, this ws a while ago mind you.

Hi 5Foot5. He did it in December of year 12. I'm not sure whether they do it at other Unis but as I say he did it at Nottingham and it really helped him make up his mind about whether to do medicine or not.
www.medlink-uk.org/course_datesvenues.htm
Have a look at the link above.

Have a look on Student Room website lots of ideas there. Care home, hospice, working with the disabled etc but a lot of them are fully booked years in advance or won't take under 18's. Lab experience is recommended as well. Have you asked at the school they might have some contacts you can utilise - otherwise just ask acquaintances if they know anyone - my DD got some Vet related experience that way.

BTW the courses you pay for are not meant to count towards work experience.

DNephew had a saturday job in a pharmacy, and is now doing med at imperial.

Although it is good to have some relevant work experience, just be aware that applying is more than just a box ticking exercise. Work experience needs to show they know what they are letting themselves in for, so I would say something like working in eg a hospital is ideal. My DS found it impossible to get experience in a Doctor's surgery, but you may be able to where you live.
The Universities seem much more focussed on getting the right personalities rather than just looking for a great long list of things they do in their spare time.