Once a week, throughout the autumn and spring terms, a group of students volunteer to go to Southampton General Hospital to partake in the School’s Hospital Visiting scheme. This activity enables KES students to meet and talk with patients, helping to give them a much needed break from their daily routine, whilst also providing valuable feedback to the hospital in the form of completed questionnaires. At the same time, this scheme provides us with an opportunity to learn something about what it is like to be a hospital patient and helps us to develop our communication skills. These are important life skills but also contribute towards the work experience required for studying Medicine. We have found hospital visiting enjoyable and informative for budding doctors as well as for those simply wanting to make a positive impact on patients’ recovery.
Ishika Prachee and Alex Johnston