Pupils are given a healthy exposure to careers in medicine

NHS Highland has welcomed the first two groups of secondary school pupils for this year’s Doctors at Work programme.

The programme, which has been running for five years, gives pupils an invaluable insight into their chosen career and an understanding of the realities of working in a hospital. The programme is going from strength to strength and with a record number of applicants it will now be running five times across the year.

Dr Emma Watson, director of medical education for NHS Highland, said the programme has been a success and has also increased the number of students from Highland being accepted into medical schools.

She said: ‘The programme is a five- day work placement for pupils who are intending to apply for medicine. This year we have 40 students over the five weeks, most of whom are from the Highland Council region but we have also welcomed students from the Western Isles.

‘Those taking part get to experience a variety of clinical settings, including wards, theatres and clinics across a whole range of specialities such as surgical, orthopaedics, diagnostics and medicine.

‘The students also have the opportunity to talk to medical students who are working in the hospital and can give them an insight on what their medical school life will be like.’

Historically, Highland pupils have been at a disadvantage when competing for places in medicine and healthcare careers but this trend is beginning to change. Since 2012, 63 per cent of pupils who have taken part in this programme and then applied for medical school have been successful.