CLINICAL SKILLS CENTRE OPENS IN BRIDLINGTON

East Riding College officially opened the doors of its Clinical Skills Centre at its Bridlington campus this week.  As part of its open event the College invited partners of the Bridlington Medical, Health & Social Care Academy to help celebrate.  Guests were able to explore the mocked-up hospital, GP surgery and home care settings, as well as see simulated patients in action. 

Clinical skills are the practical assessment and observation skills students need in a health care environment and this new facility gives them the chance to practice these skills on sophisticated robotic ‘dummy’ patients which can be programmed to simulate symptoms and diseases.   

Karen Furniss, Head of Curriculum, Early Years, Care and Access to HE explains, “The Clinical Skills Centre gives members of the Bridlington Medical, Health and Social Care Academy, which include students of East Riding College and local school pupils, the opportunity to get a head start in learning the clinical skills they may need in future.  It will help prepare them for study at university and jobs in the healthcare sector.  We are proud to be able to give this opportunity to students from the College and Headlands School – it’s fantastic that Bridlington is investing in its young people and the future workforce.” 

Students of the Academy are the nurses, social workers and health workers of the future.  It is a partnership between East Riding College and professionals in the health and care sector.  It is designed to give students a head start in the healthcare professions and encourage them to train and work in the area.  There is a shortage of healthcare professionals in Bridlington and the wider region, and providers often struggle to recruit into health and care roles.  The aim of the Academy is to highlight the opportunities available to work in the sector and inspire and support trainees in their chosen careers. 

Partners include local GPs surgeries, the NHS, the University of Hull and East Riding Social Services as well as representatives from the voluntary and private care sector.  

The Clinical Skills Centre was funded with support from FORCE and CLLD.