Safety and Support

We ensure that the countries where our programmes are located are safe and welcoming to visitors. We never organise programmes in capital cities; the programmes run from small towns or cities with low crime levels. Before establishing a programme, our head office team make extensive visits to each country to ensure that we are satisfied that it meets our high safety expectations. We monitor daily government travel advice from the British & Commonwealth Office, The US State Department and The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure we have the latest travel information for each of our destinations. 

The towns in which our programmes are based are chosen for the following reasons: safety and security, the quality of the hospitals nearby (for our students to work in) and travel opportunities in the area. 

We provide accommodation in our very own Gap Medics houses in each destination. We ensure that the houses are comfortable and secure. All houses have large, sociable living and kitchen areas, extensive outdoor spaces and shared bedrooms. In each destination, the gardens are walled, to provide privacy and security. We also have security staff at the property 24/7. As the areas where the student houses are based are very safe, security staff are mainly there to ensure that the students feel safe and relaxed during their stay. 

Each of our houses has a full staff team who are also there for the students around the clock. The team consists of: country directors, programme managers, programmes assistants, caterers, housekeepers and security staff. All of our overseas staff are fully trained and briefed by our UK operations team. 

Our staff spend time with the students in the afternoons and evenings, arranging activities and ensuring they are enjoying the experience. There is also a female night manager in each destination, who will be at the house overnight should any of our students need anything. 

Here in the UK head office, we are in constant contact with our staff teams overseas. Our programme managers update each student’s file regularly, so we know exactly which department they are working in within the hospital and what they have planned for the weekends. Members of our head office team also make regular visits to each destination so we may even see you over there! Parents can contact us anytime, either at the office, or out of hours on our emergency phone (this number is answered 24/7).