Why it matters: The NHS faces ongoing staffing challenges and these facilities give local young people early exposure to healthcare careers while providing practical skills that could help them secure future NHS roles.
The details: The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has launched new health and care facilities at four schools across the region, giving year 10, 11 and sixth form students the opportunity to start their healthcare career paths with hands-on experience.
The facilities are now open at Chantry Academy and Ipswich Academy in Ipswich, as well as Colchester Academy and Lift Academy in Clacton, for students in years 10 and 11, with Lift Academy also serving sixth formers.
Each school has been equipped with different teaching aids, including hospital beds and medical equipment, that will teach practical skills in the health and care curriculum.
By the numbers: The NHS has invested around £20,000 in each of the four schools to set up new health and social care programmes or enrich existing provision, bringing the total investment to £80,000. Facilities such as mock hospital wards are now open at each site.
What they're saying: Peter Cook, associate director of innovation and education at ESNEFT, said: "These facilities are truly transformational for the schools and, importantly, their students. Hopefully, longer term, a good number of these students will want to work for the NHS and perhaps ESNEFT."
Karin Shimmon, a talent for care apprenticeship facilitator for ESNEFT, said: "We wanted to invest in local provision and encourage youngsters to become a new generation of health and social care workers. It's beneficial to have practical 'hands on' experience to develop the skills needed for health careers. This investment and the partnership with the school and college will help bring exciting careers in health and social care to life."
Discussing the launches at the Lift Academy and Colchester Academy, Karin Shimmon said: "The students were extremely proud and enthusiastic when demonstrating the equipment to guests at the events – they really made the launch events the success that they were."
What's next: This is the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between the four schools, ESNEFT and other stakeholders, such as local further education providers.
Plans include student visits to ESNEFT facilities, invitations to specialist careers events, volunteering opportunities, and teaching support from some of ESNEFT's health ambassadors.
The bottom line: The new facilities provide local young people with practical, hands-on training that could help address future NHS staffing needs while giving students a head start in healthcare careers.
