How can I get support out of hours if there is a problem while on clinical placement?

We hope you do not encounter problems during your placement where you cannot access the usual support from your placement colleagues. In the event that you do find yourself in a situation where you need external support out of hours, there are a number of options available to you.

Health sciences

In the first instance please contact your placement practice assessor, your practice supervisor or your practice educator. If you are unwell and are unable to attend placement, a phone call is often the best approach in acute placements such as a hospital. In community  settings an email may be more appropriate. If you need to speak to someone when you have already started the shift, a face to face approach away from patients is best. Please also follow up with an email to your personal tutor who will respond during their working hours. 

If the concern is around safeguarding  of a patient or student please speak to your practice assessor/ practice supervisor or person in charge of the shift. It is also important to follow up with an email to the University's Raising Concerns inbox.

In an emergency situation please follow the process - escalating a serious untoward incident involving a student which can be found in the School of Health Sciences Process for Raising Placement Incidents and Concerns document, available on the Practice Learning Pages, under the programmes tab on SurreyLearn. 

Veterinary medicine - extramural studies (EMS) placements

You should report the issue initially to the supervisor at the placement provider.

For urgent difficulties you must contact the Campus Safety team on 01483 683333 or 01483 682002 who are trained to deal with emergency matters and escalate as required.

Accidents and incidents that occur while on placement should be reported to the Vet Placements team.

You can also contact the Vet Placements team and Personal Tutors by email or by phone if during office hours.

Veterinary medicine - intramural rotations (IMR) placements

You must contact your Clinical Instruction Mentor while you are on a placement shift and/or your Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Practice (LVCP).  

If the emergency is during out of hours then you must contact the Campus Safety team on 01483 683333 or 01483 682002.