Rural Allowance: No
Doctors Quarters:
- It’s a fairly new hospital so the DQ is still decent. It’s basically bachelor pads and there are 2 bedroom apartments usually given to second year interns. It’s fully furnished with a bed, stove, microwave and fridge. It’s a good place to start out. It’s next to the hospital and is about a 2 minute walk from the hospital. There is a bridge connecting the hospital and the dq so you don’t have to walk on the street especially late at night. It’s an access controlled complex so fairly safe. Standard rent of about R1000 every month like other dqs is charged. They have space for a washing machine in the apartments, they do have laundry services but you pay for them from your own pocket. There is a lady who cleans people’s apartments privately at a reasonable cost. Visitors are allowed but only until 10 pm then they have to vacate the dq. No overnight sleepovers permitted, however people get around this by bribing the security or bringing in their visitors midnight (security does not check known vehicles at this time). Also there are lots of rats due to poor waste control😔. Overall the environment is well kept, there is adequate maintenance. So far one of the best dqs in the country, people mostly come to Thelle for the dq. You have to have a car eventually though because it’s in Vosloorus, limited shops around, public transport is poor and Ubers are limited due to taxi drivers. Also the place is next to the N3 so easy acces to Joburg and other places.
- The quarters are decent. They are right across the hospital so you can walk across to work. There is a safety bridge/green route for walking across at night. When I got my room keys I saw there is a cockroach problem. I fumigated before I moved in and never saw a cockroach ever again. There is a generator for load shedding. The only problem is rat infestation at the bins downstairs. So you have to park your car far away from the rats so they don’t eat away your car parts.
Academics:
- It is a regional hospital, MO led. There are consultants in each department and occasionally there are regs that rotate there from the wits circuit. They try to accommodate some academics by having topic presentations in some departments but due to covid this has been lacking. It’s definitely not like your typical circuit hospital. A good place if you want a break from the circuit.
- All rotations had us do academic presentations. Ward rounds have a lot of teaching as well. They are very open to teaching those who are eager and interested. They don’t force you if you don’t want to.
Supervision:
- In some departments there is good supervision like paeds for eg and in some you are left alone and MOs are awol. Overall I think it will make you independent because there is no reg to coddle you. You learn to survive and stay afloat although this is not ideal. It is doable though even though at times you will feel overwhelmed and exploited.
- In my personal experience I always had a senior available a phone call away if not available in person. If you tell them you’re not comfortable with a procedure they come and assist. If you want independence they give it to you as well. If you want to join in and learn where you’re not really expected, like ICU paediatrics for example, they let you join and teach you.
Clinical Exposure:
- Most cases you manage will be at the level that a regional hospital can manage, you will do a lot of those and be confident in managing them, after all common things occur commonly. There rare or more specialised cases you refer to CHBAH or CMJAH but what’s great is that you will be first to see and first to intervene.
- Thelle Mogoerane is a regional hospital and it is quite large. We have a gazillion referrals and see a lot of interesting cases most especially in trauma.
Social Scene:
- The hospital is in a township, the community is friendly as well as the staff. Most people can understand Zulu as well as Setswana. The interns here are very lively, proper party starters lol. Generally a fairly good environment to be in.
- The hospital is just South of Johannesburg so it’s not far from all sorts of entertainment/night life/adrenalin adventures you can think of. The immediate surrounding is a township/Kasi. What stood out for me with the surrounding Kasi was the food. Variety of food options.
Additional Comments:
- Overall I can recommend Thelle Mogoerane. It’s a great place for internship. There is no perfect place for internship, like any facility there are challenges. Keep an open mind.
- Thelle Mogoerane is a very busy hospital. The calls are very busy. The only rotations where you rest is psychiatry, and also the gateway clinic part of the family medicine rotation. The busiest rotations are paediatrics and obs and gynae.
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