Dick Whittington summer school

Forty 16-year-old pupils from local schools, almost all of whom  from less affluent socio-economic backgrounds, spent a week on a work experience summer school at the Whittington Hospital, Archway, north London, before applying to medical school.  Between 4 and 8 July 2005, they worked in small groups, visiting hospital departments and nearby GP practices.  They met doctors, talked to patients, watched operations, and learnt about the diseases they encounter. 

On the last day of the Summer School, 8 July 2005, pupils  presented cases, in a format similar to the real Grand Round which doctors hold every week at the Whittington Hospital. 

Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Health Care at UCL, says: “We hope this year’s Dick Whittington Summer School will be the first of a series of annual events to encourage able young people from less affluent backgrounds to consider medicine as a career.

“Feedback from the pupils has been very positive and they particularly liked the hands-on activities such as running cardiac ultrasound scans and watching operations. We know that every one of the pupils intends to apply to medical school and we hope that at least half of them will get places.