University of Liverpool 2024
My eagerness to travel abroad for placement comes from my mum, who was very adventurous in her 20s. The support my family gave me and the freedom to embrace a new culture, location and environment also really inspired me to undertake an international physiotherapy placement.
Work the World were incredibly organised and made the building and planning of my trip incredibly easy. They were great at communicating with me by email and phone, informing me in detail of what to expect, and MyTrip was packed full of information about my placement hospital, the house and lists of packing kits and top tips etc.
The hospital and physiotherapy department were a stark contrast to what I am used to at home. Patients in Iloilo depended on FES, TENS and ultrasound machines. There is much less emphasis on educating patients on their conditions and management.
The staff at the hospital were so friendly and welcoming. They got me involved with talking with patients and let me lead by getting me to ask the questions. Supervisors allowed me to help with movements for a variety of patients, learning the principles of physiotherapy in the Philippines compared to the UK.
The team at the house were super friendly, and the catering team made delicious food. It was so nice to live with other healthcare students from all over the world.
Outside of placement, I did a lot of travelling. During the week, we would all go out for dinner and drinks and explore Iloilo. At weekends, we went further afield including El Nido, Boracay and Cebu. All are incredible, picture postcard perfect.
I even went to Hong Kong one weekend, which was a great experience.
If you’re thinking about going to the Philippines for a healthcare placement - don’t think twice!
