Introducing medical students to prehospital care

Studies show that prehospital care is an important, yet often neglected part of the medical undergraduate curriculum. Thus, the Prehospital Care Programme (PCP) was introduced at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2008, aiming to expose medical undergraduates to this unique area of medicine.

The programme makes use of the links between the medical school and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) and the London Air Ambulance (LAA), and places students from Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) years 2-5 with mentors from these services during a series of working shifts. During shifts, students are assigned a set of learning objects and are instructed to complete a specially designed Student Report Form for each case that they observe. Students are recruited onto the programme at the end of MBBS year 1 through the submission of a CV and a written application. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed and those that are successful are invited to join the programme at the beginning of MBBS year 2.

Interest in the programme has increased exponentially since it was introduced in 2008. It appeals to medical students who are enthusiastic about the field of Emergency Medicine and Prehospital Care, and offers them a unique opportunity to enhance their knowledge and experience. It also encourages students to develop generic skills, communication skills, interprofessionalism and record keeping.

The PCP is a successful and immensely popular addition to the MBBS curriculum at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. We hope to observe and continue to support similar replications at other medical schools.