Report 1
Reporter: Stephen French
Contact at destination: Caroline Bonfils, head of Urgences Medicales (organised via GKT exchange office)
Year of visit: 2003
Country: France
Region: Lille
Institution: Hôpital Roger Salengro, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille, 39067 Lille CEDEX, tel 00 33 20 44 40 70
Department: Urgences Medicales
Work / Study undertaken: 8 weeks working as an externe in UgnecesMedicales, clerking and examining patients and then presenting back to the internes and seniors
Description of the service and department: Busy ‘Urgences’ department in a large CHRU, regularly receiving over 100 patients per day
Description of destination
Lille is situated in the north of France, close to the Belgian border. It is capital of the nord-pas-de-Calais, a region of approx 4 million people, and is former capital of Flanders. It has an interesting history, wonderful buildings and has a lot to offer visitors. It is European City of Culture in 2004 and there are many exciting events taking place. Le Palais des Beaux Arts has an excellent collection of art, and is France’s second gallery after the Louvre
Were the local people friendly? Yes
Did you feel safe and if not why not? Yes
What did you do in your spare time?
Explore the town, local restaurants and bars. Visit surrounding towns in Lille Metropole, trips to northern coast, trip down to Paris
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do?
Try to get there during the first weekend in September for the braderie – a city-wide boot fair and spectacular event, lasting from Saturday afternoon right through the night until late on Sunday – lots of events and entertainment
What time of the year were you there? Summer (Aug-Sep)
What was the climate like?
Very hot when I arrived (during the canicule) but settled down with similar temperatures and climate to southern England
Where did you stay?
Nursing students accommodation on the site of the CHRU.
What was your accommodation like?
Room was basic but comfortable enough with small, shared kitchen on the corridor (including washing machine).
Was it provided? No
If not who arranged it? Universite de Lille 2 had arranged it for me prior to arrival
How much did it cost?
Cheap – approx €100 per month
Did you enjoy your visit? Yes, very much
Did you find it useful medically? – in what way?
Yes, seeing a lot of patients presenting with a variety of conditions, gaining experience in basic clerking and physical examination and developing differential diagnoses
Has it improved your French? Yes, significantly
How has it increased your knowledge of French culture? Yes
If you went back would you do anything differently?
Try to take a medical French course before I went. It was not a problem because I had enough time there to get familiar with medical French and gain experience, but it would have made the process easier and quicker.
How did you get there? Eurostar direct from London Waterloo to Lille Europe
What was the approximate total cost? Approx £1200
Report 2:
Reporter: Richard D Baird
Contact at destination: Pr Ponte- head of Paediatric services
Year of visit: 1995
Country: France
Region: Lille
Institution: Hôpital Calmette, 39067 Lille CEDEX, tel 20 44 40 70
DepartmentPaediatrics
Work / Study undertaken: ward work with team of paediatric nephrologists
Description of the service and department
Description of destination
South western suburbs of Lille, a huge regional hospital complex. Very few local shops but excellent public transport
Were the local people friendly? Very. the hospital staff could not have been more welcoming and responsive
Did you feel safe and if not why not? yes
What did you do in your spare time ?
Met people at the residence Châtelet. Parties with them, playing guitar etc. Going to the cinema, bars in town and trips to Paris and Belgium
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do?
Paris with three day metro card and three day museums pass – great value, you can jump queues at the Louvre etc.
What time of the year were you there? What was the climate like? August – sunny
Where did you stay?
Résidence Universitaire Albert Châtelet, Rue Frédérick Camberale, Lille CEDEX
What was your accommodation like? Basic, fridge but no cooking facilities
Was it provided? Arranged through medical school (UMDS London)
How much did it cost? 38.59ff per night
Did you enjoy your visit?
Did you find it useful medically? – in what way? Yes
Has it improved your French?
How has it increased your knowledge of French culture?
If you went back would you do anything differently? I would do more French preparation before I left
How did you get there? Eurostar train London Waterloo to Lille direct – 2 hours £72 under 26 fare
What was the approximate total cost? £500 for three weeks
Is there any other information that you think may be useful?
Report 3:
Reporter: Niaz Islam
Contact at destination: Mme. A M Decottignies, Department des Relations Extérieures (Drex)
Year of visit: 1995
Country: France
Region: Lille
Institution: Université de Lille 2, Faculté de Medicine, 2 Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille CEDEX, France
Department: Service d’ Opthalmologie, Hôpital Claude Huriez
Work / Study undertaken: 8 am – 1 p.m. in theatres (‘en bloc) to observe operations on eye. towards the last week allowed to assist in operations with surgeon, Thursday 8 am 0 1 p.m. consultations. Afternoons on laser clinic, minor procedures or refraction clinic.
Description of the service and department
Description of the destination: hospital and student halls of residence at CHR. OSCAR LAMBRET métro all within five minutes of each other – excellent location. Métro to city centre about five minutes via very efficient and fully automated Métro system – so no hassles / worries travelling.
Were the local people friendly? ‘Very’ – also very curious about why Lille as opposed to the standard Paris. Prof. Constantinides and his intern took care of me most days. The other doctors , nurses and assistants were also very eager to assist with difficulties. Other students in halls were very talkative and outgoing and take you with them very readily
Did you feel safe and if not why not? Yes partly because Lille is quite small (c.f. London) but also because of the nature of the people and approaches to safety on the métro and security general.
What did you do in your spare time ?
I. Mega funfair near the Vieux Lille for four weeks (Aug – Sept) – usually annually at some time of the year – rides equivalent to many over 18 years rides at Alton Towers.
2. La Braderie – annual event – typical of the north of France – oysters, chips and beer for all and an incredible …. market stalls all over the town centre – a ‘must’ to experience and see – very French first weekend in September.
3. Pop concert arranged free of charge in La Grande Place
4. cinemas in town centre
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do? Visit Le Vieux Lille – small but still echoes the old traditional days. Keep an eye open for events held publicly and usually free at La Grande Place
What time of the year were you there? What was the climate like? -August and September – august incredibly hot – a few mosquitoes – insect repellent was useful – T shirt and shorts. Three days of very heavy storms in September
What was your accommodation like? La Rèsidence Albert Chatelet halls of residence overlooking tennis courts. Single room – wash basin – bookshelf, table etc. $0 to 50 rooms on each floor. Need own toilet paper. Kitchen communal – no cutlery, kettle nor toaster – so eat at students restaurant in adjacent building and shop at supermarkets at ‘Eurolille’.
Was it provided? Yes by Drex
If not who arranged it?
How much did it cost? 38.50 ff. per night 50 ff. for hire of sheets
Did you enjoy your visit?
Did you find the visit useful medically? – in what way? Excellent experience – to se the routine day to day work at hospital in a different view and perspective.
Has it improved your French? Able to practise French; build up confidence.
How has it increased your knowledge of French culture?
If you went back would you do anything differently? No – but would arrange dates around either 1st September because of La Braderie or Christmas – equivalent to 2 week long Braderie – very typical French tradition in the north of France
How did you get there? Eurostar – youth – £72 return. Alternative Eurolines coach London Victoria – Lille direct 6 hours. – £44 return.
What was the approximate total cost? £300
Is there any other information that you think may be useful?
Before trip get letter stating where to go and who to see for picking up keys for accommodation: make reservation for single room in advance.
Use tourist information for maps and details about the town / city. ‘Information’ at ‘Lille Europe’ Eurostar terminal very helpful.
Food – need to buy book of ten tickets for meals at student canteen at hall of residence
Travel – need to buy book of ten tickets (cheapest way) 60 ff., then to validate each journey must date time stamp ticket in machine before entering train.
Preparation EMSA Medical French Weekend, Morely college Medical French course. book “L’Anglais Medical” – Claire et Francois Condé £26
Report 4
Reporter: Paul Nicholson
Contact at destination: Arranged as part of twinning link between Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Lille 2 university Paediatric link – Pr Ponte
Year of visit: 1996
Country: France
Region: Lille
Institution: Hôpital Calmette, Boulevard du Pr Leclerq, 59045 Lille, France
Department: Paediatrics
Work / Study undertaken
I spent one week with paediatric nephrology and one week with paediatric endocrinology There was no formal teaching by the senior staff. For ward work most of the teaching comes from the internes (house officers) and the equivalent of a registrar. They were all ken to teach on an informal basis. Outpatient’s were conducted by consultants and senior registrars. Here the teaching was very variable depending on the doctor and how busy the clinic was. Generally all the doctors were interested and encouraging although I had to push quite hard to fill up my timetable
Description of the service and department A friendly unit. A tertiary paediatric center and therefore the majority of patients are quite specialized. All paediatricians wear white coats but smart clothes are unnecessary in the wards, most doctors wear jeans.
Description of the destination A nice place although without transport it has limited appeal. The internes are very good at pointing one in the right direction of where to go or they take you out themselves
Were the local people friendly?
Did you feel safe and if not why not?
What did you do in your spare time?
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do?
What time of the year were you there? What was the climate like? January and February
What was your accommodation like?
Résidence Chatelet situated opposite the hospital. It is a hall of residence for students at university in Lille. The rooms are basic but perfectly adequate. The worst thing about it was that it smelt like a sewer!
There were no cooking facilities available but an on site student cafeteria was cheap.
Was it provided? Yes
If not who arranged it?
How much did it cost? 38.50 ff per night and hire of sheets 12 ff per week.
Did you enjoy your visit?If so, in what way? I felt that the hospital was slightly too specialized for me to benefit maximally from my stay.
Has it improved your French? The medical French was very understandable with most technical words being similar to English, however, a good level of general French is definitely necessary.
How has it increased your knowledge of French culture?
If you went back would you do anything differently?
How did you get there? Eurostar £76
What was the approximate total cost?
Is there any other information that you think may be useful? It was very good experience. Double the time would be useful to grasp the medical French.
Report 5
Reporter: Ben Pocock
Contact at destination: Arranged as part of twinning link between Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Lille 2 university, Obstetric link Pr Leroy
Year of visit: 1996
Country: France
Region: Lille
Institution: Maternité H Salengro
Department: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Work / Study undertaken
It was interesting to be in a hospital that only dealt with Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
There was a lot of opportunity to observe echography, antenatal care, gynaecology outpatients, deliveries and gynaecology theatre.
Every morning started with all the midwives, nurses and doctors meeting at 8.15 a.m. to discuss the previous day’s admissions, deliveries and operations. Unfortunately I had a bit of difficulty understanding everything that was being discussed.
The standard of teaching was very good considering a certain language barrier.
I sat in with doctors in various clinics and got to try doing cervical smears and passing specula. I observed in theatre and the delivery suite. I watched echography and went to other meetings taking place during the week. One interesting point was a weekly Tuesday meeting that included paediatricians and geneticists, where there was a satellite link with another French hospital so that both sides could present cases and see and hear each other. Junior doctors doing their specialty training i.e. ‘‘internes’’ seem to be much more relaxed and less overworked than their English counterparts e.g. less on-call days and more half-days in France.
Lunch in particular was an important part of the day and unlike England meals are provided for doctors and medical students alike. Not only were the meals incredibly good but it was great to sit down and relax and talk for at least an hour. There also seemed to be less division between the ‘internes’, chefs de clinique, professeurs, nursing and midwifery staff. Perhaps comparing it another way, England is still very class conscious and hierarchical.
Unlike English house officers and SHO’s, the French ‘internes’ are not called docteur and seem to be much more supervised and consider themselves as still studying. In obstetrics and Gynaecology, the internat lasts five years after which they can continue inn the health system and open their private practice. In the fifth year of the internat, they do some research so that they can be called docteur and opposed to the English doctors who mostly only have bachelors degrees and not doctorates.
The internes and the medical students (externs) got along so well that at first, I had difficulty telling them apart. I guess that comes from the continuity of medical school and then specializing. Externs study Obs and Gynae for four months compared to our eleven weeks.
Description of the destination
Were the local people friendly?
Did you feel safe and if not why not?
What did you do in your spare time?
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do?
What time of the year were you there? What was the climate like? Last week in January and first week in February
What was your accommodation like?
Résidence Chatelet, Rue Frédèrick Combenale, 59045 Lille.
The rooms were similar to those that I had known in London, i.e. desk, bed, shelves, cupboard and sink. Unlike our accommodation in London, few students in Lille seem to cook. They eat at the canteen where you can get a good meal for 13.20 ff – starter, main course and two desserts.
Was it provided? Yes
If not who arranged it?
How much did it cost? 13.20 ff per night – waived due to Erasmus program.
Did you enjoy your visit?
Did you find it useful medically? If so, in what way?
Has it improved your French?
How has it increased your knowledge of French culture?
If you went back would you do anything differently?
How did you get there?
What was the approximate total cost?
Is there any other information that you think may be useful?