Musgrove Park

I have been working at the Musgrove Park Hospital for the last seven weeks as part of my final placement for my Occupational Therapy Degree. Halfway through last year I finally decided to put the effort in and organise to do my placement here in the UK instead of somewhere in Aus (most likely Brisbane). It was a relatively easy option as I have my mum's side of my family over here so it wasn't going to be overly costly apart from flights. The UK is one of the most expensive places you can fly to from Aus.

So I sent letters out and got a reply back from Musgrove offering me a fourteen week placement in Orthopaedics. I am really glad I came. It has been a great experience so far there have been barely any differences between UK and Aus Occupational Therapy practices in an acute setting.

I work on three orthopaedic wards, mainly Gould ward which is trauma. Most of the patients are 70+ and have had falls resulting in # neck of femurs or need revision hip or knee replacements. However, that doesn't mean there aren't tons of other ortho conditions that come in, these are just the main ones I'm meant to work with.

Now that I've gotten the hang of how the place works it has been pretty easy seeing patients and following through with treatment plans. Although Gould ward patients tend to throw a spanner in the works when you least expect it. Like a lady saying that she lives in a 2 floor house but doesn't have any stairs (cognitive issues?). But the most common problem is someone having no family or support at home.

I have decided that when I finally settle down one day I am living in a ground floor bungalow with a walk in shower and grabrails tastefully/strategically places around the toilet, shower and entrances.