NHS staff given unique opportunity to teach and train at the University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the first university in the South East to work with the NHS to run internships for clinical staff from local hospitals.

Nurses, midwives and allied health professionals have been given the opportunity to attend the School of Health and Care Professions once a week to share what they know with students.

Project manager, Jonathan Bell, said: “This investment from NHS England is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved. Students enjoy being taught in a University setting by clinical staff, and the practitioners get the chance to dip their toes into academia and develop their own career. 

“Most importantly, it’ll give the future generation of the NHS the knowledge and confidence they need to meet the changing demands of the 21st century healthcare workforce.”

So far, the University has welcomed seven interns from across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and Sussex. They will support staff and students in the University’s Centre for Simulation in Health & Care over a 20 week period.

Dr Karen Harrison-White, Programme Lead (Nursing) for NHS England SE, WT&E, said: "Our investment represents a commitment to growing and developing our future healthcare workforce. 

“Universities are important partners for NHSE England in delivering the ambitions of the Long-Term Workforce Plan across the South East. The innovative opportunities provided through the internship programme combine clinical staff development with a high-quality enriched learning experience for students. 

“The aim is to improve staff retention across nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions, provide a potential pipeline of academic staff into the Universities to deliver increased training places, as well as preparing students for their early careers.”

Ruth Monger, Joint Interim Director of the Workforce, Training and Education Directorate in NHS England, South East region added: “I am so pleased that we have been able to work in partnership with the University to create this fantastic development opportunity for our frontline nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.  

“Lifelong learning and supporting the education of the next generation is key to delivering high quality patient services.”

The University has excellent healthcare facilities including simulated wards, an operating theatre, a simulated pharmacy and facilities focused on health and social care. These allow students to learn both basic competencies and more complex management scenarios in a safe environment.

Bethanie William, an operating department practitioner from the Isle of Wight Trust, has been in the programme for two months. She said: "The Team at the University have welcomed me whole-heartedly into my Internship and have not hesitated to share their expertise and skills, encouraging me to work collaboratively with them. I have found the students to be thoughtful and engaged in their learning, they ask intelligent questions and are always keen to hear my professional opinions. 

“With a decline in healthcare course applications, and a little over one in ten ODP roles vacant, it has never been more important for NHS organisations and Higher Educational providers to develop the next generation of ODP’s, and to identify and nurture talent.”

Head of the School of Health and Care Professions, Dr Jason Oakley, said: “We have a strong reputation for providing a wide range of interprofessional healthcare programmes at the University which have strong community links.

“The new internship also further cements our commitment to enhancing the region through strategic relationships with key partners, including hospital trusts.”

In 2019, Portsmouth was one of the first universities to develop a Civic Partnership Agreement with partners in the local community and region to promote inclusion and enrich economic, social and cultural life.

Its goal is for education and research knowledge and skills to benefit the Portsmouth Harbour region and surrounding areas.