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Peterborough Links
Overall I enjoyed my time here, the hospital staff are (on the whole) friendly and happy for you to get stuck in. The accommodation is below average though and parking can be a nightmare. Travel to Location By Car: Take the A14 North from Cambridge, join the A1 north of Huntingdon and then follow signs for Peterborough, and then the Hospital. Directions The main problem with driving to Peterborough is the parking. You'll have to apply for a permit (I'd advise doing this in advance, using the paperwork they send if you send them a stamped, self-addressed envelope). Make sure you park within designated areas or you'll get a ticket - this includes the parking along Holdich Street, which is technically outside of the 'S'-designated car park (go towards the end of Holdich Street and you'll see it on the right). You should try to reach there before 8:15am or you will have trouble finding a space. By Train: Regular trains run from Cambridge to Peterborough (and back again). The station is ~10 minutes by foot from the hospital accommodation. Buses also run from the station to hospital and vice versa. By Bus: There are good coach links between Cambridge and Peterborough town centres. Accommodation You may be housed in a number of different buildings on the Peterborough District Hospital Site, and as such the quality can be quite varied. The Curie Building This is old nurses accommodation, with ~20 individual rooms off corridors on two floors. Each room has a strange working /make-up desk combo, bookcase, bed, sink and wardrobe. Bedding provided is sheets, blankets and pillow cases. NOTE: Bedding will not be changed during your attachment there - that's up to you! There is a kitchen, dining area and communal room on the ground floor. The kitchen is supplied with a cooker (oven doesn't work), 2x microwaves, a kettle, and some pots and pans, etc. There is one shower on the first floor and toilets on each floor. Holdich Street The Holdich Street blocks are a little run-down, but the rooms are a decent size. The blocks are divided into flats, each with a toilet, a bath with shower, a small kitchen and 4 bedrooms. Most bedrooms have a sink, but it seems that one in each flat does not. Some rooms have mirrors. Heating is more than adequate, though you may want to take your own duvet as they only provide bedsheets. Again, bedding will not be changed during your attachment there - that's up to you! The kitchens have a kettle, a toaster, a small fridge and an electric stove with oven. Some have a microwave. There are pots, pans, cutlery and crockery but you may still prefer to take some of your own things (and you will need your own washing up stuff). There is no internet access (wires/wireless) provided at the accommodation. Hospital Facilities There is a cashpoint in the main reception area, on the left side of the staircase as you enter by the main entrance. Food There is a canteen/restaurant in the hospital where you can get a decent breakfast with staff discount. For lunch, a good option is the PGMC where a combination of main course, vegetable and side dish will cost you £3. Try to avoid paying with a £10 (and especially £20!) note - this is a pet peeve of theirs because they apparently have only £30 worth of change for the day. In case this becomes a problem, there is an office where staff and students can get change along the corridor in the hospital between the main reception and the entry next to the PGMC. There are drug-rep sponsored breakfasts (sometimes hot food, other times snacks) at the PGMC accompanying medical or surgical Grand Rounds in the adjoining lecture theatre. Similarly there are occasional free buffet lunches with PRHO teaching lectures. Surgery students theoretically get a breakfast at the Friday morning meeting - I think breakfast was only available at one of these over about 6 meetings. Library The library is in the PGMC. There is a decent selection of books, but only a few copies so you would be better off bringing your own. On your first day they will make you sign a form that will provide you with a username and password to log-in to the computers. There are only about 8 in working condition, and although they provide internet access you web browsing is strictly regulated. Webpages about shopping, sports, banking, etc. will not open if you are within the restricted time period (8:30am to 5:30pm I think). After or before that period you can visit these sites. You will be given an access code that will allow you to get into the PGMC after-hours, and can set up your own access code to get into the library whenever you need to. Clinical Skills Centre This is well-equipped and you will get regular sessions during your attachment. Unfortunately, it is not available out-of-hours (and the hours tend to be just those for which a session has been scheduled). Local Amenities Food Plenty of restaurants and take-aways in town (~15 minute walk from Holdich Street). There is also a fish and chip shop along Alderman's Drive. Shopping There is a Co-Op at the junction of Alderman's drive and Mayor's Walk. There is an out-of-town Tesco as well as some supermarkets in town. Going Out There are many pubs in Peterborough (don't even bother going to the castle-like pub next to the Hospital there's never anyone in there!). Popular pubs include 'The Brewery Tap' and 'The College Arms (a Wetherspoons). Teaching Seminars are timetabled a couple of times a week. You're expected to attend the medical or surgical grand rounds one morning a week as well as educational lunches that happen and the PRHO teaching. Teaching on the wards is, obviously, dependent on your consultant(s), but be pro-active and ask about it and it will happen. |