25 October 2018

The University of Wolverhampton is increasing links with SaTH as part of plans to develop the healthcare workforce in the county.

Working in partnership, the University and Trust are developing more opportunities for nursing students to train and gain clinical placements within the Shropshire and Telford area.

In addition, the University is working with SaTH to roll out the successful clinical fellowship programme pioneered with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to boost the recruitment of doctors.

There are also plans to enhance management and leadership through the delivery of continuous professional development (CPD) programmes.

Students on the BNurs (Hons) Adult Nursing programme who currently train at the University’s Wolverhampton Campus have been able to undertake placements in hospital and community settings in Shropshire and Telford since January this year. There are now plans to grow the numbers of student nurses undertaking placements in the county.

Simon Wright, Chief Executive of SaTH, said: “In the last two years, our partnership with the University of Wolverhampton has strengthened; the partnership has been instrumental in developing our nursing workforce agenda and has resulted in an increase in Adult nursing trainee placements, the introduction of Paediatric Nurse Placements and the successful implementation of our Nursing Associate Programme.

“We are delighted to be working with the University of Wolverhampton and see our relationship continuing with the introduction of new roles in our NHS.”

The clinical fellowship programme, which is aimed at UK and overseas doctors who are seeking clinical experience, a high quality training programme, enhanced qualifications and career progression, will follow the successful model developed by the University with New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. The plans are to roll out the programme at SaTH in early 2019.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are delighted to be increasing our partnership with Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust. Our approach is all about securing a regular supply of trained and updated health professionals to meet local needs.

“We are developing the practice partnership to create more placements and quality learning opportunities for nursing students, alongside the academic aspects of our courses. In addition, we are working with the Trust to roll out the clinical fellowship programme to boost the recruitment of doctors.

“There is real enthusiasm to grow the partnership and feed into workforce planning for the future.”

Dr Jenni Rowlands, Director for Postgraduate Medical Education at SaTH, added: “This fantastic opportunity to offer an innovative and attractive Clinical Fellow scheme in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton is sure to attract high calibre doctors to the Trust and the enhanced academic and clinical knowledge will benefit the whole community.”

For information about studying nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/nursing