13 year old wants to be a doctor, when/how to prepare?

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13 year old, currently year 8 wants to become a doctor or a medical staff. Can anyone give advise on how and when to start the voluntary/placement work? Thank in advance.

Most hospitals won't take work experience applications of people under the age of 17ish. So wait till after GCSEs to apply for work experience; both at a hospital and in a GP surgery. For the next few years the priority needs to be excellent academics though, there's a long way to go till applying for medicine. Also consider other options within healthcare. Oh and there's a very significant chance they'll change their minds several times about what career they want so don't commit to anything for now!

Cat's advice is spot on. The only thing I would add is to choose. GCSE options carefully to ensure the best possible grades. My dd wished she had done another academic subject instead of a creative one as she felt it would have been easier to get top marks just by working hard rather than having a talent for the subject

Join something like St Johns ambulance. Later on volunteering with hospital radio or league of friends can give useful experience and patient contact.

According to their website, St John's Ambulance takes DC from age 5!

Agree with joining the St John's ambulance. Also taking care and working hard at school.

What about volunteer visiting or whatever in a care home? What is the age for that? I think some people do that for DofE so that would be 14. That would help develop the empathy, caring side wouldn't it?

Ooh, I have one of those.
We are thinking work experience placements starting when she's 15 and even then it will be washing up & chatting with the dears in care home because they can't do any personal care until age 18. There are 3 care homes in walking distance of here (advantage of living in retirement area).

I'm hoping that if DD does enough volunteering that eventually she can get an actual job in care home in summers during 6th form, and earn some real money towards her (five year all time consuming) course. The work experience is invaluable, btw, for getting onto related type courses (nursing, midwifery, emergency medicine, etc)

DD was thinking of it a couple of years ago and everyone suggested volunteering in an old peoples home, or something similar, to demonstrate she's not afraid to get in and do the hard stuff ... not just the glamorous stuff.

She now wants to be a psychologist ... or dancer :).

One of my family went into the medical profession. As others have said, they did in fact do St John's Ambulance and worked in the holidays in a retirement home in the school holidays after turning 16. Not sure if the rules on this have changed now though? Some NHS hospitals do work experience placements from year 11, so worth contacting your local hospital. There are also quite a few short courses open to school pupils on getting into the medical profession, even things like suturing!

A lot of hospitals have volunteer coordinators who are good to contact early as there's sometimes a waiting list. Under 18 experience doesn't usual involve direct patient contact, but it all adds to the application and shows commitment. Few GP practices offer work experience any more.
As already said St johns ambulance, care homes and DofE are good options. Another thing look into is other volunteering opportunities in your area such as riding for the disabled, supporting people with physical or learning disabilities in social activities, dementia befriending groups etc
Having interests outside academia is also viewed positively such as music, sport etc
Personally I don't hold much store in the paid courses as they only show your parents have enough money to pay for them rather any actual commitment. Why would you need to learn to suture before you apply for medicine?

Sorry that was probably too harsh about the short courses, I just think some of them (probably not all) take advantage of people desperate to get into medicine when they actually don't offer a lot more than you can arrange yourself for no or minimal cost.

There is a likely chance that your child will change their minds about their career.

You do need exceptional academic grades to do medicine. Is he likely to get those?

What is exceptional academic grades HungryDam ? What kind of levels are needed .....

3 or more typically 4 grade A or A* at A level. Sciences - most universities insist on maths and chemistry as 2 of the 3 or 4.

All A-A* at GCSE (8 being the normal quantity counted) with no duds. If the school, for example, has everyone do a language and the DC hates it they cannot let it slide to make more time for science ...They have to suck it up and get an A.

In terms of hobbies and work experience - placements in the holidays with GPS, pharmacies etc.
St John's Ambulance Cadets is an excellent hobby for obvious reasons.

(I work in a school where plenty of students want medicine and we always get several through).

It's fortunate in a way they've decided now because now is the time to really put the effort in, get good grades, and plan for work experience a few years down the line. I only decided on medicine halfway through A levels, and my GCSEs were decent but not brilliant, plus I had no work experience so it was all a mad rush to try and make sense of it. But seriously, be prepared for them to change their minds!!

i wanted to start now because i thought some peoplw waste all their life time on becoming a doctor but fails at the end.

Make sure your DC is doing very well with the sciences, particularly chemistry. They cannot afford a weak grade. They could look out for revision classes at school or a few sessions with a tutor. This applies at A level and gcse.