6046 Back to school – innovative placements to consider the impact of diversity and deprivation on health and education

Objectives To form a partnership with the local education authority and University medical school to place 3rd year medical students in primary schools in areas of high deprivation index. Social accountability means understanding social determinants of health, engaging with the idea of what it means to be accountable health professionals and adopting a commitment to serve in a spirit of social justice within future practice. The aim of the scheme was to change the aspirations of children from deprived areas as well as be an important formative influence on the next generation of health professionals. Methods An initial meeting with Sandwell Education Authority led to development of a pilot. In liaison with the school teams, a placement handbook was developed, and a list of expectations established (figure 1). Students were placed in local primary schools and feedback obtained from both the teachers and students. If the pilot was successful, all students were to be placed as a mandatory component of the curriculum. Results Sixty-two students were placed in the pilot. Qualitative feedback from the schools highlighted the teaching provided by the medical students was high quality, positive interactions with multi-disciplinary staff, and working to understand the child in context of the education system. The students fed back that they learnt about communication with children and young people, teaching skills, safeguarding and professionalism. School pupils themselves saw a career in health care as something attainable for them; e.g. 'I didn't know a girl could become a doctor'. The success of the pilot has led to 400 students being placed in primary schools in Sandwell and Birmingham (12th and 7th most deprived local authorities) for a week (table 1) with ongoing positive feedback. Conclusion The feedback obtained at the end of each year confirms students: Were able to place children in the context of a family Were able to consider the impact of deprivation and diversity Engaged with children of different ages utilising varying communication styles Were able to learn teaching skills Increased aspirations of the local school children Were held to account for professionalism Would consider paediatrics as a career We suggest that all medical schools consider how to incorporate social accountability into their curriculum. A placement in local primary schools in areas of deprivation appears to achieve a positive impact on the school pupils and medical students, with the added benefit of students considering a career in paediatrics.