Hull York Medical School 2024
Natalie, a 5th-year Hull York Medical School medical student, travelled to Kandy in Sri Lanka to complete her overseas medical placement. Natalie spent six weeks in Sri Lanka, rotating through paediatric medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and general medicine.
I chose to go overseas for my elective placement because I wanted to travel and experience a different healthcare system. Furthermore, I saw it as an opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone.
I also wanted to see how different cultures affect healthcare. Based on this, I chose to undertake my placement in Sri Lanka as I felt it would provide me with these opportunities.
When I first stepped foot in my placement hospital, I couldn’t believe how busy and large it was. The Work the World team introduced me to my first department, and it soon felt like I was on placement in the UK.
It can feel overwhelming initially, but I found that just getting stuck in and embracing the differences helped me gain so much out of my placement. All the hospital staff were so friendly and helped me by translating and explaining each case.
During my placement, I saw a huge variety of cases across three different departments. Everything moved at a quicker pace than in the UK, so I felt like I had the opportunity to see lots in just one day. Because of this variety, my clinical knowledge of certain conditions has definitely improved.
In addition, I will try to be more conscious of resources back in the UK to avoid waste. Seeing how a lack of resources can impact healthcare really struck me.
The most memorable case I was involved in was when I got to assist in a caesarean section. This was an absolutely incredible opportunity and one I will never forget. Furthermore, seeing diseases that I had never seen before, like Dengue Fever, was very interesting.
The most noticeable difference between healthcare in Sri Lanka and healthcare in the UK was how the staff interacted with patients. It was not the patient-centred approach we have back home. In Sri Lanka, patients were told what treatment or management was best for them, and they would agree with no questions asked.
There was so much to do and explore in Kandy during my free time. During the evenings after placement, I visited the Temple of the Tooth, the Ambuluwawa Tower, and the local market and watched a cultural dance show - just to name a few!
I visited Yala National Park, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Ella, Galle, and Nuwara Eliya on weekends. The various beaches I had the chance to visit were a highlight because of how beautiful they were.
Booking my overseas placement with Work the World was the best decision I could have ever made. The organisation was very supportive throughout the entire process. In particular, the in-country team were incredible and did everything they could to make me comfortable.
The Work the World house felt like a home away from home. Living with other students was so much fun, and there was never a dull moment.
My placement was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have gained such an appreciation for what we have in the UK and learnt so much about the Sri Lankan culture. Looking back, I will always treasure the memories and friendships I made in Sri Lanka.
