After two incredible years of pre-clinical teaching in the MBC, I have now entered my clinical years of medicine. This marks the beginning of my training towards becoming a qualified doctor, and so it’s both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed studying in Belfast and can’t wait to embark on this new chapter of my academic journey!

Where am I studying in my third year?

Medical students at Queen’s can have clinical placement in any hospital in Northern Ireland! There are many different locations for placement, this year I’m placed in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.

Studying in my hospital accommodation room. Certain trusts provide accommodation free of charge for medical students which is great!

There are two rotations in third year, medicine and surgery. Medical students spend 7 weeks doing each rotation to gain an insight into various specialities. 

What does a typical placement day look like for me?

Each week, our timetable changes depending on the various clinical teaching opportunities available. Altnagelvin Hospital is part of the Western Trust and has fantastic teaching facilities, located in the MedEdWest building on site. A timetable is released with options to practise skills such as IV cannulation, neurological exams, mock OSCEs and more! 

Every day, I report to my base ward at 9am to shadow a doctor conducting a ward round, then try to gain experience by taking blood samples, completing patient charts and learning about medication dosages! 

Mock OSCE feedback

It’s important to maximise your time on placement, especially as the jump from second year to third year is so big! I find the easiest way to do this is by creating a handy checklist the night before my ward round with tasks I need to sign off. This means I can slowly work on building my portfolio without stressing closer to exams. 

Usually, afternoons are spent on studying with friends and attending small group lectures. These sessions are delivered by doctors working in the hospital and I’ve enjoyed the more informal style of teaching, as I feel it helps create a more pleasant learning environment!

Placement can include small group lectures

Highlights from my first week of placement!

• Meeting new people in my year
• Living with friends in hospital accommodation and having lunch together
• Learning on-the-go
• Interacting with patients
• Attending bedside teaching sessions

Final words…

Clinical placement can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be! Remembering that everyone is in the same boat as me and having my friends around means I can work hard and also unwind at the end of a long day!

Find out more

Also by Radhika: Things Not to Worry About Before Coming to University

Also by Radhika: Five Things I’ve Learnt From My First Year of Medical School

Study Medicine at Queen's

Radhika Gupta Medicine | Undergraduate Student | Derry, Northern Ireland Hi! My name is Radhika, I’m 19 years old and originally from Derry. I’m currently a third-year medical student and so far, I’ve been loving my course and time in Belfast! I like to spend weekends exploring the city with my friends and trying to find good places to eat/drink. My hobbies include photography, reading and yoga! This year I’m trying to become more involved in university activities, so you may see me around campus as I’m a student ambassador, plus I also love spending time in the Students' Union with my friends in the evenings! I’m a member of various medical societies like SWOT and WOMED, and also recreational societies like Chess and Arts!