September 18th, 2024

During my placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), I had the chance to learn about various digestive disorders affecting children.

At GOSH, each type of disorder is managed by specialised doctors who lead teams of nurses, dietitians, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that children referred to GOSH receive highly specialised care.

Children from all over the UK, and overseas, come to GOSH, many with complex health issues. While some have common digestive problems like constipation and acid reflux, others have extremely rare conditions affecting only one-in-a-million children. I was privileged to learn from children with these rare conditions and their families, which I believe will make me a more empathetic and knowledgeable doctor.

At GOSH, children benefit from advanced diagnostic tests that aren’t routinely available at other children’s hospitals in the UK. Observing these tests helped me understand how digestive problems in children are diagnosed and treated quickly at GOSH.

I attended weekly clinics where I saw doctors discuss treatment plans with patients and their families. On the ward, I joined general and nutritional ward rounds, which helped me see how the team cares for children with digestive issues.

I am also continuing to work on a research project which I started at GOSH under the supervision of the gastroenterologist consultants. The project examines the effects of a gluten-free diet on the growth of children with coeliac disease. I will present this work at the MDT meeting next month, and I hope to present at a national gastroenterology conference soon, with the support of the team.

During my placement, I gained confidence in communicating with children and their families.
I learned the importance of advocating for patients while respecting the wishes of their parents or guardians. I observed how doctors involved children and their parents in decision-making processes, which is crucial for managing chronic conditions.

Overall, my placement at GOSH solidified my desire to specialise in paediatrics. I gained valuable insights into common digestive conditions in children, participated in meaningful discussions about public health challenges, and improved my skills in interacting with young patients. This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has strengthened my commitment to becoming a paediatrician.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Barts Guild for providing me with the elective bursary that made this invaluable experience possible. Their support has been instrumental in allowing me to pursue this opportunity and gain such enriching insights into paediatric care.

I really enjoyed my elective and it has definitely strengthened my desire to become a paediatrician! Although it is emotionally difficult to see unwell children, it is also extremely rewarding to be able to help them and their families.

Children are very resilient and it is a privilege to be able to work with them and their families at such a difficult time in their lives.

As an elective student I was also able to attend the GOSH summer school, which is a conference held at GOSH for aspiring paediatricians.

The images from the summer school show one of the therapy dogs and a practise mannequin.

The furry therapy dogs are on the wards ready to provide cuddles to the many young patients, and we used the paediatric mannequins to practise our clinical skills on in simulation training; this provided a safe learning environment to practise our skills.

LEILA DE COSTA