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Wannabe doctors gain work experience at St Mary’s Hospital - 19 August 2010

Aspiring doctors from west London sixth forms gained work experience with children at St Mary’s Hospital.

The youngsters spent a week working with paediatric doctors and nurses in the Paddington hospital in Praed Street, part of Imperial College Healthcare.

Work experience(Pictured from left to right, Farzana Miah, 17, from Holland Park School, Viola Cshantal, 18, from Westminster College, and Farzana Miah(COR), 20, of King’s College London, who lives in North End Road, West Kensington, learning about resuscitation with a simulation manequin).

Wannabe medic Nathan Pinedo, 18, who had just completed his A levels at Holland Park School, was among the group of students.

“I want to be a paediatrician because I like the variety of the job,” he said. “I’ve been learning about the different departments in the hospital – I didn’t know that there were play specialists, for example.

“This is giving me the opportunity to learn about much more than just medicine.”

He had spent time learning about allergies and asthma in children and is set to find out more in paediatric accident and emergency.

“This experience has made me much more keen to go into medicine,” he added. “This is a good hospital. The doctors smile and the children are happy.”

Students hailed from Paddington Academy, Holland Park School, City of Westminster College and St Dominic’s Catholic Sixth Form, while others were university students.

Viola Cshantal, 18, who has just completed her exams at City of Westminster College, learned about resuscitation by watching clinicians practice on a special simulation mannequin.

“I also spent time in audiology, that was my favourite experience,” she said. “We learned about how children had their ears checked.

“And in the paediatric allergy department the doctors were calm and really nice to the children. It made me more keen.”

Consultant paediatrician Dr Bob Klaber said: “It is a huge privilege for our paediatric department at St Mary’s Hospital to be able to support these students in developing their understanding of what working as a doctor or health professional within the NHS entails.”

Dr Klaber co-organised the scheme, which is now in its second year, with his colleague paediatric consultant Dr Andrea Goddard.

Notes to editors:

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Western Eye hospitals
  • It is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country and, in partnership with Imperial College London, is the UK’s first academic health science centre (AHSC)
  • The work experience stint runs from Monday August 9 to Friday August 13, 2010