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MDU guide to elective planning
Geographical Perspectives (ENV-4010Y)
University of East Anglia
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Guide to
elective planning
© Rachel Bloomfield – Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania – Elective photo competition entrant
© Radha Measuria – Kenya – Elective photo competition entrant
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© Danielle Clyde – Cape Hillsborough National Park, Mackay – Elective photo competition entrant
How we can help you
Indemnity – As a student member
you can seek our assistance if problems arise from your involvement in the clinical care of patients during your elective. We can also help with indemnity for claims arising from any Good Samaritan acts you perform.
Many of our members agree
their elective was one of their
most memorable experiences
as a student. Completing your
elective is an opportunity to
widen your experience; not
only of your profession, but
also of other cultures should
you decide to go overseas.
We believe that completing
an elective can help students
become better doctors by
providing them with practical
and challenging experiences
before they graduate. We aim
to do all we can to support you
during this exciting time.
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Before you go on your elective, please contact our membership team
on freephone 0800 716 376 to confirm details of your elective and the
benefits available to students undertaking electives in the country you’re planning to visit¹.
The Electives Network (TEN) website – MDU student members
enjoy exclusive access to TEN, the ultimate online elective planning resource. Features include contact details and reviews for thousands of hospitals worldwide, country profiles, tips on planning an elective and a searchable database of funding sources. Log on to TEN at
themdu/TEN
Medico-legal advice – If you need help with a medico-legal or ethical
issue before or during your elective, you can call our medico-legal helpline. Experienced doctors are on hand to respond to queries and offer expert support and guidance.
Our medico-legal team is available between 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. Advice is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for medico-legal
emergencies or urgent queries. You can call 0800 716 646
or +44 (0)20 7202 1500.
Elective photo competition – Taken an elective photo you’re proud
of? Enter our competition to win £80 worth of gift vouchers. Simply
email your favourite photo to photos@themdu and include a
description and the location. We pick a winner every two months.
Visit themdu/photocomp for more information.
¹ Due to legislation we are unable to offer indemnity for any work undertaken in Australia during your elective. We can however provide you with access to our medico-legal helpline and indemnity for Good Samaritan acts. We would expect any clinical work undertaken on an elective to be directly supervised by a registered practitioner carrying their own indemnity.
Where to go and what to do
Electives don’t just happen; they’re usually the product of a lot of planning and organisation. Many popular hospitals may have had elective positions reserved up to two years in advance.
Things to consider
There are dozens of factors which might influence your choice of elective, such as budget, or an interest in a particular specialty or country. Ideally an elective combines personal and professional development. Talking with other students and lecturers, browsing through travel brochures or going online may help firm up your ideas.
What you can offer
While you’re thinking about what you’d like to get out of your elective do also consider whether your host will benefit from your visit. Take time to think about the ethical implications of your planned trip. If you’re going with an organised provider think carefully about their impact on the local community and take time to consider where your money is used.
Rural hospitals in developing countries are popular destinations. They may provide experience of exotic conditions and many may appreciate an additional pair of helping hands. You may also plan to take medical supplies to donate to the hospital. Be careful. Some drugs, such as codeine, are illegal in some countries.
Be wary of high application fees. Some hospitals receive a large income from students on electives. You may find you’re competing for time and attention.
Hospitals offering electives usually need confirmation from the student’s medical school of their stage in training. Some may ask for an elective booking fee and expect a student to undertake a medical. If there’s no formal system for arranging your proposed elective send a covering letter, CV, project outline and official authorisation from your medical school.
8 Guide to elective planning
Plan ahead
Some destinations are popular with students from all over the world. It’s not unusual for students to apply for up to 30 organisations to do an elective and receive the same number of rejections. But don’t give up – expand your search and find back-up options as well. Research remote locations carefully.
‘I travelled alone so I was very restricted
about what I could do as a single female. I
couldn’t swim, unless fully clothed and with
local women. The diving and snorkelling was
supposed to be the best in the world but, as I
was on my own, I had to miss out.’
Elective student, Papua New Guinea
Electives in mainland Europe are increasingly popular, particularly for those who speak the national language.
8 Guide to elective planning
Other sources of information
Your school may have elective links with other organisations. Check these with lecturers and electives advisers. Many schools require students to complete a risk assessment of their chosen elective placement to ensure that any possible risks have been identified and considered.
Elective reports from previous years are usually held by the faculty library and are often a good source of inspiration and recent first-hand information. TEN also compiles student feedback and case studies which you can use to support your research and contribute to on your return.
Research and planning
The Electives Network
(TEN) website
TEN is the best place to start your research and planning. It’s a one-stop-shop for contacts, hospital and country profiles and student feedback reports.
An interactive planner lets you search on your preferred date range and specialty. Using TEN will save you time and hassle.
MDU members have exclusive access to TEN at
themdu/TEN
Elective evenings organised by your school are an ideal opportunity to hear from your lecturers and guest speakers, and share ideas with your fellow students. MDU liaison managers attend most school electives evenings and will be able to tell you more about TEN and the other electives support resources we offer.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has a useful library and funding database (open to BMA members).
bma.org
The student BMJ website features elective reports and much more.
student.bmj
MediLexicon has an extensive database of hospitals with links to their websites and contact information.
hospitalsworldwide
The Christian Medical Fellowship provides information on healthcare and openings in the developing world.
cmf.org
Lonely Planet Guides are a great resource to take on your elective.
lonelyplanet
The Clegg Scholarship is a work experience placement with BMJ and Student BMJ aimed at students who want to gain insight into medical journalism and medical education. For information on how to apply go to
student.bmj
Sponsorship – funding your elective
You may be fortunate enough to be able to fund yourself. Or, like many students, you may need extra financial support. You could also consider the following sources:
Ì TEN funding database
Ì BMA funding database
Ì prizes and endowments offered by your school or other sources
Ì bank loans
Ì charities (especially educational and medical)
Ì churches and religious groups
Ì medical royal colleges
Ì commercial organisations.
Check for other sources of funding at the back of this guide.
If you’re applying for a loan or a grant, do the basic checks first. Find out if your application meets their published criteria, identify the department or individual who will respond to your request and check any supporting documentation you may need to provide with your application. Remember to note the criteria on which grants are made. You may be asked to present a detailed report or give a presentation and this needs to be planned along with other elective tasks.
Travel information
The host institution will often provide a booklet for elective students or suggest a contact who can give information and sometimes arrange free accommodation. Even if this is the case, try to gather additional background information to avoid any nasty surprises – like taking sterling travellers cheques to an area where only dollars are accepted.
Sources for travel information
Ì Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are great sources of information for independent and budget travellers.
Ì The embassy or commission of the country you’re visiting. Many are based in London with offices in major UK cities.
Ì TEN has links to a wide range of general travel resources, including embassies, currency converters, tourist offices and travel health providers.
Flight information
When comparing prices check whether your travel agent is registered with ATOL and the airline is registered with IATA; whether there are student discounts available; if there are hidden costs such as airport taxes; flight times and durations, and whether the flight is direct or not. More detailed information on flight deals and discounts can be found on TEN.
Travel insurance
In addition to making indemnity arrangements you should ensure you have adequate travel insurance. There are many organisations that offer travel insurance and it is always a good idea to compare costs and policies. If you intend to take part in any potentially dangerous sports such as scuba diving or skydiving make sure your cover extends to these activities.
We strongly recommend that our members purchase travel insurance.
Some embassy websites have visa application forms that you can download. HM Passport Office has information on renewal and validity requirements.
gov
Access a searchable directory of embassies and consulates throughout the world.
embassyworld
If you’re worried about the stability of a country you intend to visit seek advice from the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
gov
It can be worth registering with the consulate or embassy of your host country. If there are any problems during your stay which require repatriation, the British Consular staff will know your location.
Confirming your indemnity
arrangements
Before you go on your elective it’s important to make sure you have adequate indemnity in place. Your elective host may ask you
for written confirmation of your professional indemnity, or may even ask you to pay for your indemnity. As a student member, you can seek our assistance if problems arise from your involvement in the clinical care of patients during your elective*. We can also help with indemnity for claims arising from any Good Samaritan acts you perform.
Depending on local legislation and indemnity arrangements, your host hospital may be liable for your acts and omissions. We recommend you find out the position from the hospital you’re visiting.
When you’ve decided on the destination for your elective it’s important to get a letter from the MDU confirming your elective indemnity. You can do this by
logging in to themdu/
mymembership Just enter the
destination and dates of your elective and a confirmation letter will be produced. You can then download and print or email the letter. Alternatively, you can have it posted to the address we have for
*Contact our membership team before you go. Visit themdu/yourelective for full benefits for students on elective.
you. This will provide you with written confirmation of your indemnity arrangements with us.
In general terms, if you stay within the limits of your knowledge and experience during an elective overseas or in the UK, and work under the direction of an appropriately qualified practitioner, it’s unlikely you will encounter any legal or medico-legal problems.
You can download a comprehensive item checklist from TEN.
What to bring
It’s a common mistake to take too many clothes and unnecessary items. However, these items have been recommended by other students:
Basic items Ì Mobile phone and charger.
Ì Plug adaptor for your destination country.
Ì Passport photos.
Ì Money belt.
Ì International driving licence (available from AA or RAC).
Ì Photocopy of your passport.
In hospital Ì Stethoscope. Ì Latex gloves. Ì Mirror, probe. Ì Oxford handbooks.
Health Ì Medical kit. Ì Sunscreen. Ì Contraception.
Some students want to focus their elective on a placement that will benefit their intended career path, others want to broaden their medical experience and see care in a different part of the world. Whichever way you plan to take your elective, why not think about doing something different?
TEN has links with a variety of providers who can make your elective an event that you cherish and remember, whether you want to go on an adventure, do some humanitarian work or just get immersed in a different culture. We think it is important that you get the most out of your placement and that you find something that really suits
you, which is why we offer a Something Different section on our website.
Something Different is one of the things that sets TEN apart. You don’t have to search through endless Google results to find one type of activity
- we’ve listed them by type, which makes it easier if you haven’t quite decided what your ‘something different’ is going to be. And the best part is, we’re always seeking new partners and options, so if you don’t see something you like the first time, it might just be there next time you log on.
Tips from TEN
themdu/TEN
electives © Veena Aggarwal – Lake Bunyonyi – Elective photo competition entrant
Staying healthy abroad
Written by Professor Jangu Banatvala Emeritus Professor of Clinical Virology
Dr Anthea Tilzey Clinical Senior Lecturer & Elective & SSC Lead
Dr John Philpott-Howard Senior Lecturer & Consultant in Medical Microbiology
King’s College London School of Medicine
Updated by Professor Chris Conlon Consultant in Infectious Diseases
Dr Lucinda Barrett Consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Professor Susanna Dunachie Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
The last thing you want on your elective is to be unwell. Therefore you must understand the risks involved with your plans and ensure that you do the following.
Ì Do all that you can in preparation before you leave e. organise immunisations and antimalarial prophylaxis as appropriate. Ì Take precautions while you’re away e. prevention of insect bites and exposure to blood- borne viruses. Ì Know what to do and who to contact in the event of problems. Your own medical school may have detailed information about health and safety on electives. Make sure that you read this carefully and follow the advice given.
MDU guide to elective planning
Module: Geographical Perspectives (ENV-4010Y)
University: University of East Anglia
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