Gap Medics Launching medical careers

Frequently asked questions

Every day we get loads of emails from you guys about how your Gap Medics medical placement works.

As you can imagine, along with the relevant we also get the ridiculous….anything from what food you will eat (depends where you are) to whether the houses have baths (trust us – it’s far too hot!).

Check out the category links below to see if we’ve answered any questions that you have. If we haven’t, make sure you get in touch. We will get back to you within 24 hours and who knows…if your question is a useful or entirely crazy one, it may even get published!

Who can go?

When can I go?

Before I go…?

How does it work when I’m there?

You may think I’m weird but…?

Who can go?

• Can I still go on a Gap Medics placement if I’m not from the UK?
  Yes, we can organise medical and nursing placements for both UK and international students. Medical experience is highly sought after all over the world and we are used to working with students from a variety of countries.

• I’ve got no medical experience at all, does that matter?
  You don’t need any medical or nursing experience to come on a Gap Medics placement. The idea is that you are learning from scratch and picking up new skills.

• I don’t plan on doing a medical or nursing degree, is it still worth coming?
  Obviously placements are geared towards gaining experience in healthcare, but the skills and life experience you gain from working in a developing hospital will enhance any application or C.V.

• I’m 16. Can I go on a placement?
  Yes. Our minimum age requirement is 16 on the date you start your placement.

• My parents want to come out and visit me on holiday. Can they stay at the house with me?
  No. The house is for Gap Medics students only. We can always recommend local guest houses that your parents can stay at though.

• I want to do some charity work in my gap year as I’ve heard uni’s like that. Are you a charity?
  No. Although we follow a strict ethical policy, donating to the hospitals and working with the community to provide a sustainable project, our focus is on helping you gain experience in a safe, secure environment. If you do want to raise money for projects in the area you are working, we would be more than happy to offer advice and if we have a contact there, put you in touch. Taking your money direct to the source is one way of making sure your hard work goes entirely to the people or cause you want to help too.

When can I go?

• I don’t want to take a gap year, can I do a Gap Medics placement in my summer holiday?
  Yes. We can arrange your medical placement for summer holidays, two week breaks – whatever time slot you have!

• Are there set dates?
  No. Students come and go from the Gap Medics house throughout the year and the only rule is that you arrive the weekend before your placement starts.

• Is there a deadline that you have to book by and will you hold my space for me?
  There is no deadline for bookings, it just depends on availability. The summer is always the busiest time of year so booking early is advisable. We will hold spaces for you, but can only do so for a limited period as it prevents other people booking.

Before I go…?

• I haven’t got a clue about visas will you help me?
  Of course we will. All the countries we operate in have different visa requirements and these can change all the time, our UK team keep well up to date with these and we can tell you exactly what you need to obtain a visa and how to do it.

• What airport should I arrive into?
  For Tanzania, students should fly into Dar Es Salaam, for India its Jodhpur airport and for the Caribbean its Hewanorra in St Lucia. All details of arrival times are contained in the information packs available after you confirm your placement and we can help you arrange your flights after your placement is confirmed.

• How much money will I need to take with me?
  Are you planning on dining out every night in Michelin quality restaurants, want to buy the latest Chanel handbag from duty free or live on a backpackers budget? Remember that we pick you up from the airport, take you to the house, all accommodation and meals are provided so you can live pretty cheaply when your over there. The money you need will depend on what you want to do outside your medical placement in the country and your usual spending habits. Our UK team are happy to run over some typical country costs and suggest a recommended weekly allowance.

• What vaccinations will I need before I travel?
  Depending on the country and duration of stay with us you will more than likely need some vaccinations before you travel. When you confirm a placement with us you’ll get access to our comprehensive online travel health advisory service, prepared by doctors with a detailed knowledge of the places we work in. We also strongly recommend consulting your own family doctor a couple of months before you travel, as advice on vaccinations, malaria medication etc can vary depending on your personal medical history.

How does it work when I’m there?

• If my mates / boyfriend / girlfriend are also coming, can we share a room?
  Please let us know if you are travelling with friends as early as possible and we will do our best to put you together. We generally have a single-sex room policy because bedrooms are shared between two to five people, but if you’re travelling as a couple we can sometimes arrange for you to have your own room – especially if the house isn’t full. If you’re travelling with one or two friends of the same sex, we can almost always put you in the same room.

• Are toilets squat ones or proper ones?
  Proper ones. All our houses have lovely toilets with real flushes!

• Will someone do my washing?
  If you pay them! We work with local laundry’s who can collect your clothes and clean them for you very cheaply. Most students usually opt for saving the cash though – plunging them into a bucket of suds leaves you with cash to buy a beer to relax afterwards!

• Does someone pick you up from the airport as I’m bound to get lost?!
  Yes, we pick you up at the airport and take you to the house. The orientation will also help you get your bearings.

• Will I actually be working in medicine or just emptying bed pans and scrubbing floors?
  This is a working hospital and as an inexperienced student there is a limit to what you can do to help whilst supervisors are attending to patients. You will be able to watch, and in some cases assist, various procedures though. The rule is if you show willing with menial tasks, you are more likely to gain the respect of your supervisors and be involved in more interesting cases.

You may think I’m weird but…?

• I’m interested in going to many places, but I’m dead scared of spiders. I’m just wondering if this will limit me to certain destinations?
  Yes it will! Even home is not safe from the leggy dwellers of dark spaces! There are 38,000 known species around the world, as little as 5% of the actual numbers out there. Don’t worry though, of those there are only around 30 poisonous species!

• What is the difference between medicine and nursing?
  Ummmm – are you sure you want to go into healthcare?! As a rule, Doctors diagnose and treat, nurses have a more hands-on role, physically treating a patient based on the doctor’s diagnosis.

• I can’t sleep in a room with someone who snores. Can I have my own room?
  No. Unless we have low numbers you cannot have your own room. Take ear plugs!

• Am I going to get to have a go with a scalpel?
  Would you let an unqualified student open you up with a scalpel? No. Exactly! Just because these are underdeveloped countries, it does not mean anything other than the normal rules apply. When you get to uni you will learn all sorts about the British Medical Association guidelines on ethics, but until then just use your initiative and keep the ER fantasy alive on your tv only!