Welcome to the new batch of MCh Orth collegues from the 2011 batch. Enjoy your pleasent stay at Dundee and get ready for the MCh curriculum. This is a small effort from our batch to throw some light on the overview of your stay and the course.
MCh Orth course is designed in such a way that all the areas of Orthopaedics are covered with emphasis on biomechanics, clinical implications and evidence based Orthopaedics. It also covers methods of scientific research, writing a scientific articles, critiques, reviews, audits and professional behavior.
Try to get as much as you can from the course.
To contact the Department of Orthopaedics Dundee follow this link:
1.Reaching Dundee:
You can reach Dundee from Edinburgh or Glasgow as they are the nearest international airports.
If you reach Edinburgh on the dates notified by the University you may have facilities of transportation arranged by University staff. If you plan to travel from Edinburgh and Glasgow by taxi you may be charged 80 to 100 pounds.
2. Accomodation:
Do book your accommodation prior to the departure and after getting the admisson.
There are different types of accommodation available
A) University accomodation : Follow the link for the University accomodation.
You have to travel up and from the accommodation to the lectures, hospital everyday by local bus or by your personal vehicles.
B) Hospital accommodation: Follow the link for the Hospital accommodation.
We recommend to take the hospital accommodation for all the MCh Orth students because it is walk-able distance to he lecture rooms and is within the campus.
It is of two types NHS quarters provided by NETLATCH and Nurses or resident quarters provided by the hospital. It has attached swimming pool which is free and paid squash court.
NETLATCH NHS quarters link : http://www.netlatch.com/
Nurses or Residendent quarters : Contact
Wendy ValentineEmail : wvalentine@nhs.net
Residency Manager
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
Dundee
DD1 9SY
PH: 01382 632107
EXT: 32107
BLEEP: 4075
3. Inventory :
Basic things you need to pack before leaving for Dundee
a) Small pressure cooker
b) Small pan or kadhai (non-stick)
c) Warm clothing/Jerkin
d) Miller Review of Orthopaedics (Text book): essential for the course as most of the topics are covered.
e)Basic stationary
f)Unlocked Cellphone
g)Laptop with good antivirus software.
h)Good pair of casual and formal shoes
Do not worry for country specific food and raw materials for cooking and don't try to pack and from your home country. Dundee had wide variety of Indian, Chinese, Arab, Pakistani stores where you get all varieties of ingredients for cooking.
4. After Arrival:
Register with the Orthopaedic department in the the TORT center and proceed for matriculation at the REGISTRY at the University. Ask for the letter in the REGISTRY for opening the bank account and for the exemption for paying council tax. Obtain your ID card and necessary documents.
5. Bank:
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND is located in the Hospital building and also in the univeristy campus, but prefer for the one in the hospital. It requires letter from the REGISTRY, copy of passport and ID card and photos. You will be given debit card which is useful for depositing money, netbanking, online shopping and local shopping.
6. Transportation:
Public transport is provided by two services NATIONAL EXPRESS & STAGE COACH.
National express had wide coverage of local areas and charges more than the stagecoach. Stagecoach is much cheaper and has limited distance covered by the service. the following are types of tickets available
a) Day saver (Travel whole day fro 6Am to 10PM) National express : 3 pounds,
Stage coach : 2.50 pounds
b) Group saver (5 persons travel whole day fro 6AM to 10PM) National Express: 7 Pounds.
c) Individual tickets for short trips are available.
Kindly carry exact change in National express buses as the ticket is machine operated
You can also purchase monthly or 3 month passes for if you plan to travel regularly in the buses.
If you are carrying heavy stuff from the supermarket three or four of you can hire and share taxi. ( It also works out to be cheap).
6.Food and Cooking:
It is good for you to know basic cooking skills before you head for the course. Making bread toast, omlette, boiled egg, cooking rice etc. Small pressure cooker or small electric rice cooker for Indians is must as it is the easiest way to make rice. Other utensils may be provided by the tenants. Some utensils can be brought from the supermarkets at lower price and can be left before leaving the place.
The shopping centers are located in the city center of Dundee town which opens at 9AM and runs until 5-6PM in the evening. 2 large shopping malls are located in the city center where you could get clothing and some accessories for you accommodation.
Basic shopping outlets
ARGOS: Buy pillows, Duvets and any necessary utensils.
PRIMARK/DEBENHAMS/SPORTS DIRECT: Clothing, nightwear, warm clothing etc.
Supermarkets:
TESCO : It is the largest chain of supermarket in the UK. You can get the most of the raw materials, vegetables for cooking and items like milk, yogurt etc. One of the tesco outlet is closer to the hospital is the SOUTHROAD TESCO which can be reached by short walk.
ASDA / SAINSBURY/LIDL: Similar to Tesco, but you have to catch bus to reach them.
Asian groceries / cornershops:
AL NOOR : Located on the Blackness road where you could get most of Asian food stuff and Halal food.
GLOBAL : Located backside of the Jehangir restaurant, where you get nearly all types of Indian food and asian stuff
FU SHOP : (phool chand patel) : You can get lots of Indian and Asian stuff. It is located near seagate bus stop.
just check with department staff who will give idea to these localities.
7. Cellphone:
Get one cellphone from India itself as most of the connections in UK are contract phones. You can buy LYCA sim card for 2 pounds and charge it up with 5 or 10 pounds and it csosts 1 pence for calling INDIA. This is the cheapest available in the scotland and is like use and throw away sim card. You can go other plans depending on your stay there later after the course.
getting personal internet connection is very costly. Hospital, nursing quarters and orthopaedic department has free access to net.
8.Hospital facilities:
There is free swimming pool and squash court for those staying in the doctors residencies or the NHS staff quarters. the hospital has canteen at three levels where they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is doctors mess in the ground floor and they charge 17 pounds a month and you will have 24 hour access for getting tea, coffee, toast, biscuits, fruits and juices all the day.
You have paid parking facilities in the hospital premises for your vehicles.
9. Car hire:
Hiring a car is slighter cheaper if you plan to share with your friends. Indian driving licence is valid for 9 months but with a person beside you holding a UK license. You can get international driving licence to drive a car in UK for 9 months. For details of license visit website of DVLA of UK. Arnold clarck is one of the firm which hires cars. Please look at the details of agreement before taking a car for hire as there are many hidden charges or else contact department staff for any help.
10. Students Unioun:
DUSA: Dundee university students association is mostly helpful. they organise varied variety of events of which you also can attend. Take a look at the university timetable and the DUSA activities in the website so that you can attend them without missing the lectures. DUSA also runs shops in the university campus and hospital campus where you could buy at cheaper price.
11. GP registration:
Finally register with the GP (general practioner) nearest to your stay. This is helpful if you fall sick you would have free medical treatment in case of emergency. WESTGATE MEDICAL PRACTICE is the nearest one which is close to the Ninewells hospital.
12. Flight tickets:
There will be holidays in the end of december and first two weeks of January. Coordinate with the depatment staff to book you tickets early(as soon as you join the course) if you plan to leave and come back. Finally plan for the final return tickets as soon as you get the time table of your course. Mostly check and book your tickets for the mid of June of the forth coming year.
Finally you can post your comments on this blog and we will try to reply for it.
