A group of year 12 and 13 pupils have taken part in the GHA’s successful Summer Placements Programme for 2024. The aim of the series was to attract young people who may be aspiring to a future career in the Health Care Sector by providing a structured internship and work-based practical experience in different sections of St Bernard’s Hospital.

Before the summer, the GHA gauged interest via local schools and social media with a view to attracting ‘A Level’ pupils to apply.

Thirty-nine pupils from Bayside and Westside Schools and the Gibraltar College undertook the assignments during the summer months as part of the programme. The most popular category was nursing with 20 students, followed by Medical and Dentistry with six and four respectively.

Human Resources Manager, Darrien Ramos, said: “The students were able to shadow relevant professionals over a two-week period to get a good taster of what to expect in their prospective chosen career path. This follows the GHA’s continued career development offerings, which include participation in the ‘Future Pathways’ initiative, undergraduate and postgraduate training placements and participation in the upcoming Careers Fair 2024”

A Westside Year 12 Pupil, said: “During my time spent at St Bernard’s Hospital mirroring the nurses in John Ward, I was able to see all the different types of care that nurses provide on a day-to-day basis. It gave me a perfect insight into what hopefully my future will be as an adult nurse. The atmosphere of the ward was lovely and I felt like I encountered many different wounds and dressings that needed to be changed, which was a great experience. I would like to thank everyone who made this possible.”

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, said: “I am delighted at the response from students to our Summer Placements Programme which is a great stepping stone toward quality career opportunities in a vibrant sector such as ours. The high number of participants is an encouraging sign that the GHA is seen as an attractive employer by the wider community and young people seeking continuing professional development after their studies. “ 

The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “This initiative is part of the Government’s commitment to develop a locally skilled workforce, ensuring Gibraltarian students are prepared for highly skilled roles in the health and care sector. I am delighted to have seen such strong interest from young people in our summer placement and would like to thank the team at the GHA for making this possible”.