Unique nursing course partnership hailed a success and already filling up for 2021

A unique teaching partnership between the University of Bradford and the Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is going from strength to strength.

Four years into the joint venture, based at Dewsbury District Hospital, programme leaders have hailed the project, which offers up to 50 student places on a three year BSc Nursing course, a resounding success. 

So popular has it proven places for the April 2021 intake are already being filled - organisers are urging anyone interested in studying nursing in the area to apply sooner rather than later.

Nurse-of-13 years Jodie Copley, Lecturer in Adult Nursing in the Faculty of Health Studies and Programme leader, said: “Nursing has always been at the forefront in the UK during times of war, civil unrest and disaster, and now the current pandemic has brought nursing back as a career choice for many more people. Nationally, applications to nursing courses are up 17 per cent and we are expecting this course to be very popular.”

She added the course also benefited from a strong focus on black, Asian, minority ethnic communities and for its support of other under-represented groups in the profession, which includes men.

“We are seeing much more involvement with hard to reach groups including males and people from BAME backgrounds. This is really positive because to meet the needs of the communities they serve, the NHS needs a workforce that is representative of the population.”

The University’s Faculty of Health Studies has a coveted Athena SWAN Bronze Award, which means it has taken positive steps towards social inclusion and equality among staff and students. In addition, the University as a whole was named as University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2020 by The Times and Sunday Times.

Lecturer Peter Fothergill, a nurse who has been a lecturer at the university for 20 years, actually helped set up the A&E department at Dewsbury District Hospital and says the fact the Mid-Yorkshire cohort are taught on the hospital site means training is located at the heart of the community.

He said: “The programme we have running at the Mid Yorkshire Trust delivers exactly the same as the programme in Bradford, except it’s on the hospital site, which is how it used to be many years ago and there are certain benefits to that. The bespoke teaching facilities on site are excellent and provide a comfortable and friendly learning environment.”

In addition, the Mid-Yorkshire Trust project benefits from focused support for students before and after graduation. The Trust offers students awaiting the start of the programme to work as a Health Care Assistant, providing an opportunity to become familiar with the clinical surroundings and the clinical colleagues they will be working alongside as a student nurses.