Healthcare students come to end of training

9:06am Tuesday 15th April 2008

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Thursday marks the end of two years solid studying for 21 healthcare students within Cumbria's three health trusts.

After completing a two year foundation degree, the trusts' healthcare assistants have now moved into their new roles of assistant practitioners.

The degree is a work-based academic qualification and brings together academic theory and work practice to prepare students for a particular role within their organisation. The project has been piloted by the former Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire.

To celebrate this achievement a joint event will be held at the Penrith Rugby Club on Thursday (April 17) from 9.45-11.45am.

The speakers at the event will include a principal lecturer from UCLAN, head of business development Noleen Devlin from Cumbria Primary Care Trust and non-executive director Jacqui Filkins from Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The students will be presented with their well-earned certificates by the two Directors of Nursing from Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust and the Director of Clinical Services from the Primary Care Trust.

Noleen Devlin said: "These new roles have been designed with the needs of patients in mind and to support clinical staff in care delivery."

Looking ahead to next Thursday's celebration, newly qualified assistant practitioner Helen Lloyd - who works at Millom Community Hospital - said: "This has been a very intensive course and if it had not been for the fabulous support I would not be here celebrating this achievement.

"The skills and knowledge I have developed have enabled me to remain focused on achieving a lifelong goal of progressing my career and to become a confident, competent practitioner."