MEDICAL FEEDBACK

NAME: Karen Simpson AGE: 25 PLACEMENT: Red Cross Children’s Hospital - Care COUNTRY: South Africa
What experience do you feel you are gaining? How to deal with Children from day to day, understanding the need for care and attention. Being aware of the bigger picture in health care and the difference to the UK. Gaining experience of a life time and it's really too hard to put that into words.
What is the best thing about your placement? People, whether that be a day old to 100 everyone has a story and its an amazing way to open your mind. The Hospital is unique and there is so much to be involved in, if you’re willing to throw yourself at it. The support you get is brilliant but make sure you tell people how you feel else they don't know. There are so many best bits it’s too hard to say.
Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes, yes yes and more, to be involved with a place and people who are an inspiration is not to be missed.
What type of person do you think this placement would suit? Hard to say but maturity is a big plus. People who have an open mind, want to be involved, confident to be solo and people wanting to CARE.
Was their anything that you weren't told before you went away that you think future volunteers should know? No, everything was very clear to me and Natalia has been brilliant in checking everything is ok and keeping me well informed.
Can you describe a typical day? At the hospital by 9:00 taking toys, face paints or anything to stimulate the children’s imagination and take them away from the clinical environment there are surrounded by day in day out. Tea break at 10:45 is a good time to chat and exchange stories. 11:05 back to the wards. Finish for lunch around 12:30 ish depending what your involved in. 13:30 back to the hospital, sometimes for a lecture on a range of topics or back to the ward to help out with any odd job's. Leave by 16:00. Other things include helping with lunch for the children or handing out sandwiches to the parents.
People will get so much from this placement it is a must and that is coming from someone who was scared of Children when I arrived, now I’m the biggest Child here!