Rural Allowance: No
Doctors Quarters:
- I didn’t personally live there, but had friends who did and it looked pretty decent. Looked like a normal flat you would rent.
- There are 2, Lissa Hoff and Ella Hoff. Lissa Hoff is 500m down the road from the hospital. Looks quite like a prison, it is dangerous to walk outside but there are some people I know who walk to the hospital. Very cheap, great value for money.
- There are 4 different DQ’s where they can place you. Decent all in all. Great value for money and close to the hospital.
Academics:
- Academic hospitals always had registrars and consultants, so naturally academics must be attended.
- I expected more academics from seniors but most of the time academics were aimed at students. We never attended most academics due to ward work. If you ask though, you will receive. Many consultants and specialists always available.
- You have morning meetings, journal club discussions, ethics meetings and tutorials for interns. Academic ward rounds also helps a lot to teach!!
- Varies between different departments but overall more focus on getting the work done (higj non-academic work load) and not leaving much time for academics. Possible to increase your academic gain if you actively look for opportunities (asking questions, asking to do procedures or do courses / study independently).
Supervision:
- There are always consultants and registrars above you so you never make hard decisions alone. Considered pretty sheltered.
- We were always 100% supervised and never left alone. Most of the time we are not allowed to make decisions and follow direct orders from registrars and consultants.
- Always available, always willing to help & teach if you are willing.
- Seniors usually available but some can abuse you and make you do some/most of their tasks.
Clinical Exposure:
- Academic hospitals always had the more interesting, uncommon or unusual cases. For internship, being exposed to common things is more important… I felt that the clinical exposure was either the most severe cases of the common things or uncommon things. I don’t think it is a good place if your goal is to be a GP.
- We did see some common conditions, especially during family medicine, but mostly specialized stuff. Patients are not allowed to come to Steve Biko unless referred, or in a dire emergency, so exposure was definitely limited with a small patient load.
- Seeing the weird and wonderful things AS WELL AS normal, common conditions.
- See interesting cases among the more common ones. Nice to see the rarer cases but not too great to help prepare for com serv etc where you will be managing common, less complex cases alone.
Social Scene:
- Super lonely. Steve Biko is a big hospital with few interns. You call alone, so you become friends with your seniors and end up working in different firms alone with no other colleagues/one other colleague.
- It is what you make of it. Pretoria offers many opportunities for different interests if you look around.
Additional Comments:
- Tertiary Hospital with too few interns. Not an ideal environment
- You don’t work long hours at Steve Biko. You don’t manage patients yourself, and so it doesn’t prepare you well for Comm Serve.
- Honestly doesn’t deserve the criticism SBAH usually receives. Definitely depends on your attitude – if you’re willing to work and learn, no better place to be.
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