West Suffolk Hospital celebrates NHS Week

22 June 2001

NHS Week 2001 (27 June – 5 July) is a celebration of NHS staff and their pioneering work.  It aims to develop greater public understanding of the NHS and recognise the efforts and dedication of those who work within it.  This year the focus is on Modernisation of the NHS - it is a rapidly changing service - and Careers within the NHS - the most varied and multi-talented workforce in the country.

As part of NHS Week, BBC Radio Suffolk will broadcast live from West Suffolk Hospital for three hours during the morning of Wednesday 27th June.

Fifth-year students visit West Suffolk Hospital

Date:   Monday 2nd July
Time:  3.30pm
Venue:  West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds

Also as part of NHS Week, five students from King Edward’s Upper School in Bury St Edmunds are visiting the West Suffolk Hospital on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd July.

They will be given resuscitation training and will hopefully gain a certificate of competence in Basic Life Support.

The 17-year old students are interested in careers in the NHS, and the visit is intended to give them an introduction to working in healthcare.  They will spend time in different areas of the Hospital in order to experience a wide range of professions.  Placements have been arranged in the Day Surgery Unit, Emergency Assessment Unit and the Children’s Out-Patients Department.

The students will also get the chance to attend sessions with a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Ultrasonographer in the antenatal clinic, and ask them questions about their work.

Media are invited to the Hospital on Monday 2nd July to see the students being trained in resuscitation techniques.

This is a rare opportunity for young people who are interested in health care careers to see at first hand what it is like to work in a busy hospital, said Karen Miles, Clinical Practice Facilitator. We have made the programme as eventful as possible so that the students are able to witness a number of different roles and decide which one appeals to them the most.

The NHS offers a varied and interesting range of careers, and the choice available to someone wanting to work in health care far exceeds most other professions.  Everyone is aware of nursing, but laboratory technician, pharmacy and many other roles are also on offer.

Public edition of Up & About

A special edition of the Trust magazine Up & About has been published to celebrate NHS Week and inform the public about recent developments at the Trust.  Copies are available from Reception and other public areas of the Hospital.

Back to the Floor

Directors at West Suffolk Hospital will go back to the floor on Wednesday 27th June as part of NHS Week.

Ten of them will spend a morning working on the frontline of services, shadowing a regular employee to gain an insight into their work.  The aim is to help the directors understand the issues facing staff on a daily basis, and to experience at firsthand life for workers at the forefront of caring for patients.

Media are invited to attend the work shadowing event on Wednesday 27th June.

See also the NHS week website.