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Information and guidance for current students and sub-societies.

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Galenicals Constitution

The society constitution is the document which sets out the roles of the Galenicals Committee, and the rights and resposibilities of all Galenicals members. The most up to date version can be accessed here.

Support for Students

Welfare and wellbeing

Galenicals as a society is committed to help promote and support the welfare of all medical students. So, we are a great port of call, especially if you aren’t sure where to go for any additional help or advice. We appreciate the challenges that you can face when being at university, let alone the additional aspects of being a medical student with longer term times and ‘out’ placements that can feel very lonely. We feel strongly that Bristol Medical school should be an inclusive place to which all of us should feel a sense of belonging. Embracing the positivity of diversity and supporting each other through cultural awareness and appreciation as we also manage the academic parts of our course.

We have several different schemes running within the society to provide pastoral support and build a sense of community. This includes the Medic Family scheme, Welfare rep network and running social events. We are also happy to hear about ideas, suggestions for improvements, or things that you think will make a positive difference within your medical school program.​

Welfare director

Please get in touch with our welfare director through email: med-galenicalswelfare@bristol.ac.uk.

Helen Low
Hello!
I’m Helen a 3rd year medical student and am the welfare director this year. I am based in Bristol all year, and in my free time I enjoy triathlon and being by the sea! I really want to help you have the best time possible in medical school and am always happy to listen. We have an amazing group of mental health first aid trained welfare reps across the academies with a wealth of knowledge and med school experience to help you get through tricky times. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch either by email or fill in the form, no problem is too big or small!

Peer-to-peer support

One of the key ways in which we are trying to promote welfare is through running our network of Welfare Reps who can be found both in Bristol and throughout the different clinical academies. Welfare reps are medical students who have had peer support training and who are available for a chat and to help navigate and signpost further support that’s available or are friendly faces who can be there to listen and help with anything that’s worrying you.​

To access the peer-to-peer support scheme please fill in the form linked below. Alternatively, you can always email us with any queries or questions at med-galenicalswelfare@bristol.ac.uk​.

Peer support form
Little Blue Booklet

Click here

Welfare contacts

Everybody will find things difficult or just need pointing in the right direction at some point and it’s important to know that there is help easily available. Please find below some useful university and external organisation contacts:

Galenicals contacts

Email

University contacts
External contacts

Emotional Support

  • The Sanctuary – offers a safe place to visit for mental health support
  • Off the Record – for mental health support information
  • Bristol Mind – visit the website or call the helpline on 0117 203 4419
  • Samaritans – visit the website or call 116 123
  • Suicide Prevention Bristol – call 0800 689 5652
  • Big Moose – https://bigmoosecharity.co/can-we-help/

The clinical academies

From Year 3 onward, students are allocated to 8 different ‘clinical academies’. These are essentially clinical placements where you will be attached to a hospital (yes, you get a NHS lanyard and ID card #almostadoctor).

You will receive teaching from doctors called clinical teaching fellows. They are really quite friendly and their job is to guide, assess and take care of you in general throughout the placement. If you have concerns about medicine or life in general they will often be happy to have a chat!​

Bristol placements

North Bristol (Southmead)

Click here

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Out-placements

Bath

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The Hospital
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest hospital trusts in the country. There are around 30 wards, 17 theatres and an busy A&E department in Gloucester Royal Hospital.
 
The bulk of formal teaching takes places at Redwood Education Centre, which has numerous teaching rooms, a library, a clinical skills lab, a simulation suite and small canteen. You will also spend some of your time in Cheltenham General Hospital, which is smaller, but has a very similar atmosphere and set-up (except Bristol medical students are the only ones around, so it’s much less busy than Gloucester). Teaching in Cheltenham occurs at Sandford Education Centre. 
 
The hospital is a 15-20 minute walk away from the accommodations. At first it seems like a complete maze so leave yourself plenty of time to get around. The staff are friendly and eager to teach too – so make the most of it! The academy team are also lovely and always there to help, so make sure to speak to the CTFs, undergraduate team, clinical skills team or the dean if you have any problems.
 
Head to Fosters canteen in the hospital for 25% off food as an NHS worker. There is also a Costa Coffee in the Outpatients Block – a common post ward-round rendezvous point!
 
Getting there
Many people travel to Gloucester by car – grabbing a lift with a friend. It takes around 1 hour by car to the centre of Bristol, or just under 1 hour on the train to Bristol Temple Meads. The bus/coach station is right next to Whitfield House accommodation and the train station is just across the road. 
If you have to travel to Cheltenham, there is a free bus (99) that runs every half an hour – remember your hospital ID. The bus takes around 30 minutes in off-peak times and around 1 hour in rush hour.
 
Accommodation
Gloucester accommodation is some of the best! Rooms are modern, clean and well-furnished: single bed, large desk, chair, wardrobe and a clothes airer. Bring your own bedding and kitchen equipment (one set of cutlery is provided). As Gloucester accommodation is very nice, there are lots of charges if anything gets lost/damaged, so try to leave it the same way you found it!
 
Formal Place
Years 2 and 5 live at Formal Place, located conveniently by a Tesco Express. The property is split into a mix of 1 & 2 bed flats all with single beds, a bathroom and/or ensuite, kitchen/diner and lounge area. Situated in Gloucester town centre, it’s around roughly 20 minute walk to the hospital. 
 
Henley Court
Housing Year 5 students, this 16-bed property is split into 8×2 bed flats all with single beds, a bathroom and ensuite to main bedroom, kitchen/diner and lounge area. It’s located on Montpellier Place, near the lovely Gloucester Docks area and is a 20-25 minute walk from the hospital. 
 
Roebuck House
Housing Y4 students, this 23-bed property is split into 9×2 bed flats and 1×5 bed flat all with either shared shower rooms or ensuites, kitchen diner and lounge area. Situated next to Henley Court at the junction of Brunswick Road/Park Road, it’s near the lovely Gloucester Docks area and is a 20-25 minute walk from the hospital. 
 
Whitfield House

Years 3 and 4 live at Whitfield House, also located very near a Tesco Express and a large Asda. The 61-bed property is split into a mix of 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 bed flats all with single beds, shared shower rooms, kitchen/diner and lounge area. Situated right by the bus/coach station, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the hospital. 

 

Facilities in Gloucester

Supermarket

There is a large 24hr ASDA between the hospital and accommodation with a slight detour. There is also a Tesco Express by the bus station.

Pubs/bars

If you ask anyone at the hospital where the best place to go out in Gloucester is, they will always say Cheltenham! However, it isn’t cheap. There are a good few pubs around the accommodation worth exploring. There are also a few clubs nearby on Eastgate Street. Nandos and Pizza Express (followed by cinema every Wednesday), were also very popular whilst in Gloucester.

Exercise

There is a very good Gym (GL1) close to the accommodation – it’s a modern looking sports complex, which has pretty much everything: swimming pool, tennis courts, aerobics classes, weights – it’s great! You also get NHS discount – ask the admin team. There is also a rock-climbing centre near the docks.
It’s a 15 minute walk from halls and you can check out their website here.

Student thoughts

“Gloucester is a great place to be in third year! It is known for being one of the more intense academies to study at, particularly for Med-Surg, but in hindsight this isn’t a bad thing! The teaching staff are brilliant, and everyone on the wards is always welcoming and helpful. Gloucester may not be the nicest city in the world (truth be told it’s a bit of a dump), but you’ll end up making some great friends and having a great time as a result!”

“I was in Gloucester for MDEMO…Orthopaedics was great!! The orthopods were all super friendly and encouraging…scrubbed in and assisting at the first surgery I attended!! Loved it!!”

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The Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital (MPH) is a sizeable hospital located in the centre of the Taunton. Teaching occurs mainly within the Academy – a large, fairly new, and well-equipped building in the centre of the hospital, which is shared with Plymouth medical students, as well as nursing, pharmacy and midwifery students, making it quite a nice bustling environment. There’s a large common room + kitchen (with plenty of free tea/coffee/hot choc/biscuits!) which is only for Bristol & Plymouth med students. It also has a well-equipped clinical skills lab, including high-tech SIM rooms, and a decent library. The staff are usually very welcoming and eager to provide outstanding teaching. The AMU is an excellent place to gain on-take experience, clerkings and practice clinical skills.
 
Getting to Taunton
Driving: most people drive and car share – it’s straight down the M5. Generally it’s best to leave about an hour to get there, longer if you’re leaving in the morning due to traffic.
Train: there is a train station in the middle of Taunton – there is a regular service between Bristol and Taunton which only takes 30 minutes! The station is close to the hospital (10-15 min walk) but a little further to the accommodation (45 min walk – but some students often shared a taxi back or get the bus).
 
Accommodation
Students are placed at Canonsgrove Halls of Residence – 3 miles from centre of Taunton.
 
Canonsgrove – The accommodation is something of a mixed blessing. Situated about 3 miles from the hospital, Canonsgrove is shared with Plymouth med students. Rooms have a single bed, desk, shelves, bedside table. All are en-suite (watch the showers, the water goes everywhere!). You’re usually provided with a duvet and pillow – but you need to take sheets, and consider a mattress topper. The rooms are pretty similar to Durdham Hall – the exposed brick is a bit depressing at the start but you quickly grow fond of it!
Kitchen – shared kitchens have an oven, hobs, microwave, kettle, fridge/freezer combo. The Academy provides quite a good, but random, selection of cooking utensils – so good idea to take some of your own. There is a 24/7 phone number you can call if any problems​
 
Facilities at Canonsgrove and around Taunton
  • Communal areas: No common room outside of each flats’ kitchen – but for summer there’s a great outside football pitch and BBQ area (look out back!)
  • Parking: loads of spaces in the back car park – don’t need a parking permit for Canonsgrove. Takes about 20-25 mins to drive to hospital.
  • Bikes: There are bike racks available at Canonsgrove (padlock with code) and MPH (ask hospital reception to sign up for access to the hospital bike centre). Bikes are the way to go in Taunton!
  • Supermarkets: Most people tend to go to big Tesco or Lidl as both are really near the hospital – you can’t miss it! Otherwise, if you need bits and pieces, you can always go to the Tesco Express near the college, or Trull Stores which is on the left on the way back to the halls (on Honiton Road- the long A road that takes you back to halls)…they sell really nice home made cakes in there!
  • Pubs: there’s a number of good pubs around the area in walking distance. “The Winch” (Winchester Arms) is closest, a quick 20 minute walk.
  • Local sport clubs: students in the past have joined local sports teams and run clubs during their placement. Trull Tennis Club is just next to the accomm.
  • Running: benefit of being in the middle of nowhere – loads of great running routes! Galenicals can’t advocate for this level of trespassing – but there’s a hole in the hedge behind the sports field that lets you get to a quieter country road for better runs!
  • Gyms: Quite a few options, all a bit far! Puregym and Snap Fitness are good options, or Nuffield Health if you can afford it (they have a good student discount!) 

 

​Getting to Musgrove Hospital from Canonsgrove 
Walking: Takes around 40-45mins… Good on a sunny day!
Cycling: Best option as there are no hills. Takes 10-15mins to cycle to the hospital (bring bike lights for the last bit down the A road in the dark!). The academy provides well-maintained bikes with helmets, lights, locks – contingent upon a £50 deposit. There are also lockers and showers in the academy. You can also claim money back for cycling in, so make a bit of a profit!
Bus: The number 97 takes about 15mins and which you can claim, however not very regular times and only runs around 8am til 5pm, so not great for early starts or late finishes…
Driving: No students or NHS staff can get parking permits for the hospital, and parking there is extortionate. You can park in the surrounding streets, however in the past students have had anger directed toward them, so you may have to park 10-15 mins walk from the hospital itself. Alternatively you can drive to a nearby Park and Ride and get the bus in – fully refunded but a bit of an inconvenience.
 
You can claim back ALL travel expenses (including cycling per mile!): ask admin staff for more info.
 
Taunton itself
The halls are located just under three miles outside of Taunton…so if you want to get into town it’s best to cycle, drive or take a bus. There are loads of great shops – including all the usual high street stuff and sometimes farmers markets. There are plenty of places to eat out such as Pizza Express and a Wetherspoons – some aren’t the cheapest of places. The Old Library is pretty nice too. If you fancy a big ‘un, the biggest club in Taunton is called Shout! (on east Street) or Fever has been said to be pretty fun. Mecca Bingo is also in the centre – medical students have been found there. The nearest cinema is the Odeon, near the M5 junction 25, where you will also find bowling.​​
 
Student thoughts

“The admin staff are so friendly and really helpful!” “The academy is excellent and doctors on the wards were keen to teach and get students involved in the day-to-day running of the ward.”

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The Hospital

Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) is a relatively small district general hospital compared to Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital. It has approximately 2,200 staff and serves a population of around 185,000 people across South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and parts of Mendip. Each year, over 40,000 patients attend A&E, the maternity unit delivers nearly 2,000 babies, and the intensive care unit manages hundreds of patients. Overall, staff are approachable and keen to teach.

The Academy is integrated within the main hospital, with library services located next door, making it easy to access learning resources. The doctors’ mess is available for use and usually has plenty of snacks (until they run out!). 

If you have any urgent accommodation issues outside working hours, contacting hospital reception can often be the quickest way to get problems resolved (but do check this with the academy when you go there!). 

 

Getting to Yeovil

Yeovil can be difficult to reach without a car. Driving via the A37 takes approximately 1.5 hours as this is largely a single carriageway, delays are common if stuck behind slower vehicles. Sharing lifts is recommended to reduce costs and make the journey easier.

Train journeys take around 90 minutes, but it is important to check which station you are travelling to. Yeovil Pen Mill is approximately a 20-minute walk from the accommodation, whereas Yeovil Junction is around a 40-minute walk and not ideal on foot. Ubers are rarely available, taxis do operate, but many students find driving themselves quicker and more reliable.

 

Accommodation

Accommodation is at Nautilus House, approximately an 8-minute walk from the hospital. Rooms are well maintained and include a double bed and en-suite bathroom. Bedding is not provided, but can be purchased in advance by emailing the accommodation team.

The kitchens are generally well equipped with cookware and utensils, although bringing a few extras can be useful.  TVs are available in the kitchens and can be connected to a laptop using a USB mouse and an HDMI cable. There is a common room for socialising and studying.

Ordering parcels directly to the accommodation is not recommended. Parcels can usually be sent to the Academy instead, ask about this on arrival. All deliveries are checked by hospital security.

 

Parking

Free parking permits are available, allowing parking either directly outside the accommodation or a few minutes’ walk away. Parking on the hospital site itself is not advised as it is not free and extremely limited.

 

Shops, gyms and leisure

An Aldi is located very close to the accommodation and is convenient for food shopping. There is also a large Tesco within walking distance. Yeovil has limited nightlife, though there is a popular Wetherspoons near the hospital, with most other pubs and restaurants located in the town centre. The Quedam Shopping Centre and numerous charity shops are worth checking out.

For walks and time outdoors, Yeovil Country Park is highly recommended, you can head towards Ninesprings Café and continue into the woodland area for a scenic walk with waterfalls and plenty of dog walkers. Wyndham Hill is a shorter, closer walk with great views where you can see the hospital from the top and may encounter grazing cows. For a short break or day trip, Sherborne is an easy drive away and well worth visiting for the Abbey and surrounding town.

There is a Nuffield Health gym about half a mile from YDH, which sometimes offers discounts for medical students.

If you are interested in music, there is a Yeovil ensemble (formerly orchestra) and a choir that rehearse on Tuesday evenings at Vicarage Street Methodist Church, close to the accommodation. They are friendly, relaxed, and welcome new members with any instrument or voice, no auditions required. Medical students and hospital staff have joined previously.

Student thoughts

“As a student I feel the staff were helpful and catered to our needs as and when we made requests. The organisation seems to be well put together with prompt responses to queries. It is great fun!”

“It is rather far from Bristol but having only a few students there it is a great chance to learn and be taught. The admin staff are really helpful!”

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