St Luke’s welcomes record number of medical students

St Luke’s Hospice is playing a growing role in shaping the next generation of doctors, with almost twice as many medical students training at the hospice this year compared to last year

St Luke’s Hospice medical team will welcome 31 university medical students during May and June, marking a significant milestone for the hospice.

This means the organisation will have hosted 94 medical visitors during the current academic year – almost double last year’s total of 51.

Since September, St Luke’s has welcomed the below medical students:

• 35 from University College London (UCL)
• 20 from Brunel University London
• 18 from City St George’s
• 14 from the University of Cambridge

In addition to student placements, the hospice has hosted taster days for local GPs who want to gain a greater understanding of hospice care, as well as week-long placements for trainee consultants from Northwick Park Hospital.

This academic year marked a first for St Luke’s, with first-time placements from City St George’s and Brunel University London joining existing partnerships with UCL and Cambridge.

The hospice is preparing to welcome final-year students from the University of Cambridge as part of their Apprentice Programme before they begin work as qualified doctors.

St Luke’s believes hospice care is something every doctor should understand. These placements give future doctors valuable experience in managing pain, supporting families, and having difficult conversations; all skills that will remain with them throughout their careers, whatever path they choose.

As students move into hospitals, GP surgeries, and specialist roles, they will carry this experience with them. Some may even choose to specialise in palliative care after seeing first-hand the work carried out at St Luke’s. Ultimately, these placements help ensure more people receive compassionate, dignified, and understanding care in the future.

The hospice continues to receive excellent feedback from students, including:

• “This was one of the most engaging teaching sessions. I appreciated going through the symptoms and the management.”
• “The ward round was amazing – I saw many patients and observed consultations with family members about what to expect if patients were transported home. Those were challenging discussions, but I understand the need to be honest and clear.”
• “Everyone was very friendly and created a safe environment to ask questions. I felt comfortable saying ‘I don’t know’, and staff helped fill any knowledge gaps.”

Teaching also benefits St Luke’s itself by encouraging staff to continue learning, sharing their expertise, and staying connected to the wider healthcare system. This achievement reflects the team’s ongoing commitment to education, mentorship, and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.

St Luke’s would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to its resident doctors, whose time, support, and energy make these placements possible.