Students get a taste of hospital life

Students from the University of Sunderland’s new School of Medicine are reflecting on their first taste of life as doctors after visiting South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

The students, who began their five-year course towards a degree in medicine in September last year, met staff and patients – some at South Tyneside District Hospital and some at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Dr Mark Shipley, consultant respiratory physician at South Tyneside and director of undergraduate clinical studies for the School of Medicine, and Dr Andy Davies, consultant in elderly medicine at Sunderland and undergraduate programme lead at the University of Sunderland, gave introductory talks before the students were given tours of the hospitals.

Dr Shipley said: “This is a milestone in their degree and a special moment they will probably remember all their lives.

“They have been learning about clinical and communication skills but this was the first time they were able to experience a little of what their job will entail and, very importantly, talk to patients.

“Hopefully, this initial look at what we can offer in terms of career development will sow the seeds for them choosing to join us after their degree.

“Our Trust has a strong ethos of supporting students throughout their training and medical careers.”

Professor Scott Wilkes, Head of the School of Medicine, said: “This was the students’ first experience of what it’s all about in one the region’s premier teaching hospital trusts.”