Lucy Peacock

When I started my degree, I learned I would have the opportunity to do an elective placement overseas. I instantly knew this was something I wanted to do. It was far out of my comfort zone, but I knew the experiences, opportunities and knowledge I could gain would benefit me personally and professionally. 

I work in a hospital in the UK that cares for diverse patients. I wanted to continue to develop my understanding of different cultures and beliefs and how these cultures and beliefs impact the local healthcare system.

A student from my university recommended Work the World, and I now know why — from my first contact with them, they supported me with all preparations and ensured everything ran smoothly.

I was planning my trip during a very busy time at university. So, having access to such a complete, personalised service helped me stay organised. I got a login to MyTrip (an online placement planner), which relieved all of the stress and anxiety I had in the lead-up to the trip.

While in Sri Lanka, the Work the World House team was amazing. They made me feel safe, welcome and supported.

Life in the house enabled me to meet like-minded healthcare students. We shared placement experiences, afternoons and evenings exploring Kandy, and weekend trips further afield. The house was set in a gorgeous location. It was spacious, with fun communal areas. But there were also quieter areas that allowed me to have my own space when needed.

The staff in the house were wonderful. They were so accommodating — nothing was too much for them. Two things stood out: first, they regularly checked in about our placement experience with us. I always felt supported knowing I could discuss positive and negative (if any) experiences from a particular shift.

Secondly, the language lessons and clinical sessions hosted in the house were a great addition to each week. Learning words and phrases relevant to my placement areas meant I could better communicate with hospital staff and women on the wards. I could always tell how much they appreciated the effort I had put in.

The clinical lessons enabled us to discuss healthcare differences between countries, and it gave us a deeper understanding of why things were different.

Before travelling to Sri Lanka, I researched the local healthcare system to know what to expect. Work the World helped a lot with this, as they know their destinations inside out. This research and preparation helped me go into my placement hospital with an open mind and a willingness to learn. 

That open-mindedness and willingness to learn was important, as was having a non-judgemental attitude towards local practises. 

I noticed similarities and differences between Sri Lankan and UK maternity care. I was surprised to learn that Sri Lankan professionals followed the NICE guidelines like we do in the UK. However, there was a more relaxed attitude towards patient privacy and consent.

Labour rooms had beds with very little space in between and only a small curtain to separate them. I found this challenging, but the staff did the best they could with the resources they had.

We explored Kandy in the evenings and used our weekends to explore Sri Lanka further. After placement, we visited different places in Kandy. I would recommend visiting the Temple of the Tooth, Ambuluwawa Tower, and whitewater rafting.

Over the weekends, we visited Galle, Ella, Sigiriya and Trincomalee, stopping off at different places along the way.

Many things about the trip will stay with me. If I had to choose one thing about my time in the hospital, it would be the relationships I built with staff. I’ll never forget the kindness the hospital staff showed me as a student midwife. It made me feel so grateful for the opportunity.

The memories I made travelling with my Work the World housemates and the friendships we formed will also stand out. The whole experience helped me grow as a student midwife and as a person.

I recommend Work the World to anyone considering an overseas elective!

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