Grenoble
Reporter: Alexandra Simmons
Contact at destination: Prof Francoise Carpentier - Chef de Service
Contact Peggy LECOMTE, the secretary for international medical students working at the hospital: Peggy LECOMTE, Secretaire de Faculté - Pôle S2, Pavillon de Neurologie, Hôpital Albert Michallon, Domaine de la Merci 38706 La Tronche, Grenoble , France . 0033(0)0476765796 Peggy.castejon@ujf-grenoble.fr
Year of visit: 2005 - 2006
Country: France
Region: Grenoble
Institution: Hôpital Albert Michallon
Department: A&E and combined assessment (Urgences Medicales), ICU
Work / Study undertaken
Mostly spent time clerking in patients, therefore taking histories, doing examinations and ordering/chasing up investigations. I also attended ward rounds throughout the day. There were additionally lectures/ tutorials for French medical students on A & E and paediatrics in the afternoons that I was able to attend.
Description of the service and department
Urgences Medicales was a busy emergency department and acute receiving unit (for GP referrals). It is attached to the surgical emergency department where medical students can see orthopaedic cases and do suturing.
Description of the destination
Grenoble is on the edge of the French Alpes and is therefore surrounded by mountains, although the city itself is in a valley and very flat. It is also surrounded by ski resorts, the closest being approximately 40 minutes drive.
Were the local people friendly?
I generally found French doctors and medical students in A & E relatively unfriendly but this was sometimes because they were very busy. However, everyone else in the hospital was very friendly and were always trying to practice their English with you. The Grenobloise are generally a friendly bunch.
Did you feel safe and if not why not? Yes, Grenoble is a relatively safe city from my experience.
What did you do in your spare time ?
As there were so many ski resorts nearby, I spent a lot of time snowboarding, which can be as cheap as 9 euros for the day at some of the local resorts with a student card. I also had a bike and made several trips around the city and further a field. The city has plenty of bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, shops and museums, although sometimes it was too cold to go out!
Is there anything that you would particularly recommend others to do?
Climb the Bastille… there is an amazing view.
What time of the year were you there? What was the climate like?
November to January. It was very very cold, but it was always sunny and there was very little rain and some snow.
What was your accommodation like?
I sublet a room in a French student flat approximately 10 minutes cycle from the hospital. There was a double room, living room and large kitchen which I shared with 6 other students.
Was it provided? No
If not who arranged it?
I arranged this myself through a contact in Grenoble , but I think I was quite lucky to get this accommodation, as it can sometimes be quite difficult to sublet a room in France .
How much did it cost? 300 euros per month.
Did you enjoy your visit? Yes, it was brilliant.
Did you find it useful medically? If so, in what way?
I was in my 5th year of medicine and therefore had the advantage of being confident in my clinical skills, which I believe is important when you are working in a foreign language. French medical students are sometimes more actively involved in patient care as in the A&E department, students or externes are the ones who generally clerk patients in. This was certainly very useful for history taking and general clinical skills and patient management.
Has it improved your French?
Definitely. It is important to speak some French beforehand and maybe some medical French, but you pick this up very quickly.
Has it increased your knowledge of French culture?
Certainly, as I was living with 6 other French students I learnt a lot about food, cooking and wine!
How did you get there?
Edinburgh – London , London – Grenoble with Easyjet and Ryanair. Both of these airlines fly from London to Grenoble .
What was the approximate total cost? £500
Is there any other information that you think may be useful?
There are quite a few Erasmus medical students from all over Europe working at the hospital and I attended several Erasmus events, which was great for meeting people. Also if you get invited to a party by anyone French, it’s a really good way to learn French!