BARNSLEY Hospital opened its newly-extended Education Centre - which aims to support the next generation of doctors - last week.
The centre, traditionally where nurses trained when the hospital was first built in the 1970s, has had an extension on the back to provide more conference space and has been reconfigured to make it more fit-for-purpose thanks to a £1.8m scheme.
Local artist Adam Briscoe has also provided three pieces of wall art for the centre, funded by the hospital charity.
More than 250 resident doctors have been inducted at the centre over the past 12 months, and it was officially opened by medical director Dr Simon Enright and managing director Michael Wright last Friday.
Dr Enright said: “We are proud to showcase this excellent academic and learning element of Barnsley Hospital.
“Many colleagues across the trust - and also stakeholders from the community - use the Education Centre for a breadth of courses and meetings.
“It is the heart of education in the trust, and for so many, the start of a journey in long-term training.
“The new and improved Education Centre also supports Barnsley Hospital’s application for teaching status.
“Teaching status for hospitals designates institutions committed to educating and training future and current healthcare professionals, often through partnerships with universities and colleges.
“An example of this is Barnsley Hospital Academy - a partnership between Barnsley College and Barnsley Hospital which provides clear educational pathways and employment opportunities for students interested in health, social care, and NHS careers.”
The Education Centre, which has its own library, is used for various purposes including Mandatory and Statutory Training (MaST).
It has meeting spaces for corporate staff and groups from the community such as patient experience groups.
Visitors also come from around the region to train on regional teaching programmes.
Among specialist courses at the centre are focused ultrasound in intensive care (FUSIC) and an ‘introduction to healthcare’ for 16 to 18 year olds, to develop the talent pipeline of the future.
Louise Pembleton, the hospital’s head of medical education, added: “The centre also has improved audio visual and high-fidelity training equipment which allows us to deliver sessions which mimic real life clinical scenarios in a controlled and safe learning environment - the team have invested in a technology enhanced learning manager to allow us to do this.
“The hospital has seen an increase in nursing and student nurse numbers, as well as medical students and resident doctors over the last three years like the rest of the NHS.
“The expansion of the centre increases placement opportunities for them and provides a modern setting for them to train and learn.”
