Summer schools

Since I've left school and have so much spare time I decided to look at medicine summer schools and open days, only to realise I've left it way too late for anything this year. Damn! I'll learn from it and be applying in like January next year.
I have found one interesting looking summer school for 15-18 year olds run by Debate Chamber. It costs £250 though, so I'll have to nag the parents...

First post in a while..

So, I've organised my St Johns paperwork (finally!) so should be a proper member in the next couple of weeks.
The lovely lady at the friends of St Richards phoned me back and is going to see if it would be possible for me to volunteer on the wards. We'll see how that goes later, as I'm much too tied up in GCSEs at the moment.
Sciences are going well... chemistry and biology anyway. There's something about physics which just doesn't click in my brain, but I should be alright considering I'm not continuing it at A Level.

Developments

So yesterday I went along to St. John's, and I'm allowed to stay in adults! Happy happy. I'm sorting out my crb next week.
Also got a voicemail from the friends of St Richards hospital. Apparently they'd love to have me, as they're understaffed. The main woman is on holiday at the moment, so I need to contact her when she's back. Sounds promising.

Today has been a good day.

I feel like today I've done quite a lot. In reality I haven't, but for me, considering my opportunities at the moment it wasn't half bad.

In Biology we dissected a kidney. I find these kinds of hands on lessons really interesting, especially as it gives me the chance to make incisions through real tissue. It makes me want to take part in some surgery. The only downside was the unavoidable smell which wafted from the kidneys - it smelt not unlike an unpleasant public toilet.

I've also attended my first St John's Ambulance meeting. I have to go along again next week, and do a crb check, then wait for that to clear and then I can get properly involved. St John's seem to have made a few changes to the first aid qualifications, which some members of the group are unhappy about, but luckily by joining now I've avoided all that. I got to have a go at CPR on the 'Annie' dummy, and also practiced using a defibrillator to restart the heart. I have had 'staying alive' stuck in my head since though! There is a slight worry that I'm too young to be a part of the adult group, despite this group being on the details I was sent after applying online and marking my age as 16-17. It should be okay, and I hope it will be. The alternative would be St John's cadets, which is a good group for young people, but they take children from age 10 upwards and I can't help but wonder how many opportunities will be available for people so young. I'd really rather remain with the adults. Fingers crossed...

Hospital friend

I've downloaded the 'Become a Friend' leaflet for my local hospital - St Richard's. I would like to volunteer there but my age is an issue as you have to be 18. Still, becoming a friend gets me into a hospital environment, which is always a good thing. Hopefully it will give me a chance to get to know some of the staff, and ask them about working in a hospital (and maybe even mention shadowing..) I'll post the form tomorrow.

My first post

I'm starting this blog to record my experiences as I try to lay the foundations for a career in medicine. As I'm only 16 I'll probably not have much to write yet, but hopefully what I do will be worthwhile. We'll see...