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Undergraduate External Elective Policy
The Belfast Trust welcomes undergraduate medical students from medical schools outside of
Belfast for elective placements in our hospitals.
There is a non-refundable administration fee of £75 (€105*) for all applications sent to the
Belfast Trust. Cheques and Postal Orders are made payable to ‘Belfast Health and Social Care
Trust’.
* Conversion correct as of 1st July 2015
Applications for summer 2016 will only be accepted from 1st October 2015.
1. To be eligible to apply for an Elective Placement within the Belfast Trust, students must
have completed their 3rd year of their Medical course.
2. Students from other medical schools will be expected to have received, within their own
medical school, sufficient training in medicine to benefit from the proposed attachment.
This includes where appropriate, the ability to take medical histories and perform the basics
of clinical examinations.
3. Elective placements are only offered during June, July & August each year, and are limited
to a maximum of 6 weeks.
4. To be eligible to apply, all students must seek medical indemnity insurance prior to
submitting an application form for the dates they are requesting placement.
a. Indemnity insurance must cover medical practice (negligence); students should not
be operating or carrying out tasks over and above their current level of clinical
training while on placement. Please ensure you are covered for taking bloods and
inserting cannulas in patients.
b. Indemnity cover (for UK medical students only) can be obtained from
www.themdu.com or www.medicalprotection.org
c. Indemnity Insurance for overseas students – if you are a member of MDU or MPS
within your residing country – you can contact them and they should be able to
transfer your membership to the UK companies on a temporary basis whilst on
elective placement in the UK. If you are not a member of MPS or MDU in your
country then you need to ensure your insurance provider will cover as stated above
for medical practice. Alternatively, indemnity insurance for international students
can be purchased from http://www.academicgroup.com/ampi-for-med-students.html
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5. Every student must submit a completed application form; a letter of medical standing from
their University; a current CV; proof of indemnity insurance and a cheque or postal order for
the application fee (£75/€105). It is only when these documents have been received will
the Undergraduate Office attempt to identify a suitable supervisor for the placement. NB:
BHSCT cannot accept any other form of payment.
6. General enquiries are not considered as an application received.
7. An Associate Sub-Dean will endeavour to identify a supervisor for every suitable elective
applicant within the Belfast Trust. If a student has already been in contact with a possible
supervisor, it is essential to include the Consultant’s name on the application form.
8. An attachment will be supervised by a consultant employed by the Belfast Trust. They will
ensure that the student’s role within the Trust is in keeping with the student’s capabilities
and experience e.g. knowledge of ethics and patient safety.
9. Once accepted, the student will be required to complete the Elective Placement Protocols
pack. This pack (along with supporting documentation, i.e. Proof of Indemnity and Police
Background Check) must be submitted within 4 weeks of receipt.
10. The student will be expected to adhere to the Belfast Trust policies and procedures when
they are on the wards (i.e. dress code). An information booklet containing a link to these
policies will be distributed on confirmation of an elective placement. Your supervisor will
inform you of any specific requirements relating to your elective placement.
11. The Undergraduate Education Department will keep records of student details e.g. address,
email, emergency contact details, etc. These details will not be shared with a third-party.
12. Elective students may request accommodation within the Trust, to be charged at a rate set
by the Trust. However, the Trust will be under no obligation to provide accommodation or
to assist in securing private accommodation. Accommodation for elective placements will
only be offered from June to August. Students from Queens University Medical School will
have first preference for Trust accommodation. NB: accommodation is limited within the
Belfast Trust.
13. Elective students on this scheme must, at all times, work under the guidance of their
Consultant Supervisor. At no time must students initiate clinical work; including any
investigation or treatment of patients.
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14. The total number of external elective students may be limited at the discretion of the Trust,
as decided by the Undergraduate Education Department.
15. Applications should be returned via email to:
undergraduateoffice@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
The Administration fee should be made payable to “Belfast Health & Social Care Trust” and
posted to :
Undergraduate Office,
Postgraduate Centre,
Lower Ground Floor,
BCH Tower Block,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust,
Belfast, BT9 7AB
16. The closing date for applications for summer 2016 placements is 30th April 2016.
Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
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Undergraduate External Elective Application Form
Title: (please delete as appropriate)
Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other _________
Forename:
Surname:
Contact E-mail Address:
Contact Telephone Number:
Details of Next of Kin:
University you are training at:
Year of study & expected Graduation
Date:
Dates Requested for your elective
placement:
Please indicate in less than 100 words
your previous training in clinical
medicine involving:
history taking; examination skills and
your understanding of patient safety
and ethics:
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Previous training details continued:
1._____________________________
Specialty Areas you are interested in:
(Please list in order of preference)
2._____________________________
3._____________________________
If a supervisor has already been
identified and confirmed, please
indicate their name and hospital here:
Supervisor Name:
Hospital:
a) A signed letter confirming your
medical standing from your
Medical School
b) A short CV
c) £75 / €105 application fee (payable
by cheque or postal order only)
d) Proof Medical Indemnity Insurance
can be obtained
Please include the following
documentation with your elective
application form:
Accommodation required?
(please delete as appropriate)
Yes
NB: We cannot guarantee that you will be able If yes; please confirm definite dates required for
your stay: (first come first served basis)
to use the BHSCT accommodation as rooms
are very limited and is only available during
non term time of our local university (June –
______________________________
August) You will be required to pay normal
rent charges for the accommodation.
No
Please sign and date this application form in the box below:
I have read and fully understand the Belfast Trust Elective Policy.
Signature of applicant: _________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
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