Academy Guide: Weston
Also known as Weston-Super-Fun and Weston-Super-Nightmare – it seems quite quite clear that you either love it or hate it.
The hospital itself is really small – only 320 beds, 60 consultants and 14 wards. This makes A&E weeks a little quieter than that at the BRI. However – they do have a bike race once a year which brings in many a casualty!
Getting there
Weston General Hospital, Doctors Residences, Uphill Road South, Uphill, BS23 4TQ
Best to go by car, usually along the M5 via Avonmouth – takes about 45 mins in the morning.
Buses aren’t particularly great – usually take a lot of time.
Train – good option, especially if you have a bike. Costs £3.70 return. Short cycle (half hour walk) from station to hospital.
Cycing: Is possible, only done once by a student, in a moment of fresh madness.
Accommodation
30 second walk to academy (which includes library and computer facilities, and where most of your tutorials will be based). Hospital is 1 min walk from accommodation. This means you can wake up at 9.28 for a 9.30 start…luxury.
Accommodation itself is good. Only £20 deposit needed. Split into flats of 6 rooms with communal kitchen, lounge and 2 bathrooms. Normally live with firm which can be brilliant (or not depending on how well you get on with them!). Good size rooms including wash basin. All crockery/pans etc are provided, as are towels and bedding. May need to bring extra duvet as they are tiny! Free washing machines and dryers.
Make sure to make friends with your flats cleaner – they’re a fantastic team and clean your flat daily! Who wouldn’t want to keep on the good side of them?!
Parking spaces are onsite, free and readily available, no passes needed.
Library open 24 hours with printing and speedy internet.
Facilities and Local Area
Gym on site in the hospital building (physio gym). Speak to Jason to get the code.
The beach is 15 min walk, good for running or afternoon off, but watch out for mud!
Radio Sunshine – A great opportunity to get to know patients on the wards, and gain radio experience, whilst serving the community. Volunteers are always needed.
Lots of fish and chip shops, a few Chinese takeaways. Local shop is Tesco Extra about 1 mile walk, big Asda and Morrisons about 2miles but better to drive.
2 local pubs. The Ship and the Anchor is about 5 mins walk from accommodation. Pub quiz on Thursday evenings at the Ship. Apparently, there are 2 local nightclubs, a cage fighting club and a strip bar in town, but never ventured that far . . .
Year 3
Med & Surgery A (TUBES)
Known to be the weakest of the four at Weston but still good, as very few wards and not a great deal of patients, so you need to seek out the patients that are there. However, there are lots of timetabled tutorials on useful and essential subjects, which will make it more worthwhile.
Med & Surgery B (AERN)
Excellent, one of the best out of all the academies. Lots of patients and staff, and a lot of experiences to gain, so you will need to organise yourself well. As with TUBES, lots of timetabled tutorials on key topics, and ward teaching.
Psychiatry
Has own separate ward on site with lots of patients, and generally a good block in Weston. Staff are good and lots of teaching is timetabled, many staff will give you extra teaching if wanted too. This block has the most free time so it’s good to be close enough to Bristol to come back and forth.
MDEMO
Excellent block, one of the best in the academies. Lots of activities and clinics to attend, with special teaching clinics timetabled especially for students and lots of surgery too. Teaching is brilliant and
lots of it! A&E is fantastic here too, as you have a whole weeks run of
A&E to spend as much time as you want there. Need to be organised though
as it’s a busy block!
