Rural allowance: No
Doctors Quarters:
- 2 bedroom apartments quite far away from the hospital with a hectic dirt road to get to it. You share with another intern which you can choose, otherwise randomly allocated.
- Some of the apartments are quite neat and others have not been looked after very well. A fridge, stove & microwave is included. Some of the apartments have beds & couches & some do not.
- It’s a nice 2 /3 bedroom in Gonubie Palms, 16km from Frere and 30km from CMH. Downside about it is that it’s down the gravel road but that’s like 1.5 km stretch of a road.
- In Gonubie. You need to have a car or use Hospital transport
Good at CMH, average at Frere. - 2/3 bedroom flat at Gonubie palms (about 15min away from Frere hospital and 25min away from CMH).
- Located in Gonubie, semi-decent space for little money. Unfortunately far away from Frere and CMH. You need to be aware of your surroundings and belongings.
- Neat flats with good community but unfortunately far from the hospital.
- Building in Southernwood (which is not one of the safest neighbourhoods) with 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. Apartments are fully furnished. If the apartment has more than one bedroom, you’ll have to share. There are limited garage parking spaces, so most people park in open parking around the building. They charge R2000 for the DQ and electricity is prepaid. The building has 8 floors and the elevator hardly works.
Academics:
- It actually depends on the department.
- Each rotation is filled with formal and informal lectures, great supervision, but still loads of space to become hands-on.
- Even if there isn’t dedicated teaching time in certain rotations, there is a high standard of practice for evidence-based medicine and all the seniors enjoy teaching.
- Great consultants committed to teaching.
- Seniors in the EL Complex (esp Frere) are very eager to teach. Some blocks have weekly tutorials, some have bedside academic rounds. To get the most out of it, it helps to study on your own before the tutorials.
- Greatly depends on the specialty and the firm you’re placed in. Some consultants do more teaching ward rounds; others not. There are weekly CPD presentations which also vary from very academic to not.
Supervision:
- You’ll definitely almost always covering or to call when in need of help.
- Always.
- Depends on the rotation.
- Great supervision. Most seniors are willing to help out and to give good advice.
- Never felt alone or like I couldn’t ask a senior for help but also felt like I gained confidence as an individual practitioner.
- You will be given just enough supervision to be safe but you will be expected to work independently.
- There is always a senior to advise you on your management when you are not sure of something.
- MOs are always contactable – whether they’re there in person, or by phone. You’re never making decisions alone on calls.
Clinical Exposure:
- I saw almost all conditions you could think of even the new one. Honestly I learnt a lot in that 2years more than I did in my 6years of medical school.
- You get to see stuff.
- Great hospital to get hands on in casualty, anaesthesia (you can run lists with a senior mo supervising), amazing opportunities to manage ortho patients, great exposure for c- sections and you can even cut an appendix if you are keen. Really a great hospital to prep you for that rural commserve.
- Maybe not as busy as some other hospitals so maybe quantity of certain cases was less but felt like I saw and did everything I needed to.
- If you are keen you will be allowed to do almost anything.
- Good mix of supervision and being allowed to do things alone if you feel confident.
Social Scene:
- There is a social committee that organise some social gathering but that’s once in a while. Life in EL it’s great( hence the call it the capital of Ubumnandi).
- Lots of things to do in East London.
- Limited due to COVID.
- Amazing and friendly place! Always something going on. Great outdoor life, definitely amazing surf!
- EL is a bit of a quiet city but good number of interns to make it a vibe.
- Awesome area and surrounds. Great close knit community of doctors.
- Social committee organises events every 3 months or so. Most people find it easy to build a community here. There are things to do for entertainment around East London.
- EL is a small city, but there is a big cohort of interns that interact with each other. Lovely outdoor activities.
Additional Comments:
- Would highly recommend East London Hospital Complex, very glad I did my internship there.
- It’s the best decision you can ever make for your mental health.
- East London complex is amazing!! Do it!
Would strongly recommend. It wanted my first choice but I’m so grateful to have gone there. It’s a wonderful balance. - Great hospital and area. The complex is committed to make you a safe, independent doctor.
- EL complex is great for internship. You get good clinical exposure, under sufficient supervision and you can have a good work-life balance in second year. I highly recommend it.
- Would highly recommend EL complex!
Please contribute to this conversation by replying to this topic.